MDF or Plywood?

Post Reply | Watch this Post

I'm planning two projects and trying to decide if MDF or some kind of regular plywood would be best.

Project one is a simple corner desk for my bedroom for a computer. Rather than make it with legs, I'm planning on putting wood strips (attached securely to the studs) along both edges and screwing the top to those.
Very similar to this:
http://www.creativeconnectors.com/products/27Corner_Wall_Desk.htm

Project two is a flip-down counter to provide extra counter space in the kitchen. It will hang on the wall and flip down when I need the extra space (saw a similar thing on HGTV's Home to Go and am copying that...I have it recorded).

I was thinking of going with 3/4 inch 4' X 8' sheet of MDF, cutting in half and using each half for each project. On the desk, I plan to paint white and put a clear desk pad on top to protect the finish. I'm still unsure how to finish the flip-down countertop. My ideas are either some kind of waterproof varnish (would paint the underside that shows while hanging on the wall the same color as my walls), or else cover it in a vinyl.

Any thoughts on how to finish that so that it won't get ruined when I spill water/food on it?

I think the pricing between MDF and plywood will be about the same, because if I use MDF, I'm likely to dull a saw blade and have to buy another. (I use the Black and Decker Navigator little power saw, which my friends call my ladies' saw and new blades are about ten dollars)

My concern about MDF is that it leaks the formaldehyde and needs to be sealed. My concern about regular plywood is that it might warp.

So my many questions, should anyone have experience or opinions on this:

1. How to finish the flip-down counter to hold up to spills?
2. If you were doing these projects, would you use MDF or plywood (and if plywood, what kind of wood)?
3. If MDF, how do you seal it so it won't leak the formaldehyde?

Thanks in advance,

Anne