this post was submitted on 21 Aug 2023
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[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Flat pack stuff has been around much longer then IKEA. The real wood stuff was great, but heavy and inconvenient to transport. That's why the flat pack stuff caught on so fast.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Particle board is heavier than un-processed wood. Ikea does sell some stuff made from actual wood if you look for it. I bought an unfinished pine table from them for $60 a few years ago.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's just false. Particle board is without a doubt less dense than actual wood.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It really depends on the variety and the wood. MDF or medium density fiberboard is quite dense and heavier than say, pine wood. But not all particleboard is the same. There are many kinds and they vary greatly in density and composition.

I’m not sure what being heavier is supposed to mean though. Heavier doesn’t mean stronger.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I didn't say heavier. I said dense. I wasn't making a comment about the strength.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I also said dense. Particle board comes in many densities (as does wood). The range of both of them overlaps, so there is no way to make a sweeping comment that one is more dense than the other.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Come on man...

You're being pedantic. Yes if you choose the least dense wood you can, and the most dense particle board, sure. 👍.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

Well you made a very strong statement to someone: “that’s just false.” And you were not correct. Correcting that with actual nuanced information is not being pedantic.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

No it isn’t. Particle board is not one product, first of all. It comes in all kinds of material compositions, densities, and coatings.

Yes, 3/4” sheet of MDF is heavier than plywood. Heavier than a panel made from construction wood species. Not necessarily heavier than hardwood.

But IKEA furniture is not made from MDF. The particle board they use is something far lighter and full of tiny voids where MDF has none.