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I'm in the process of gathering all I need to make a fox style side bender and was wondering if 18mm (3/4") MDF would be suitable as I have 1/2 a sheet of moisture resistant rather than shelling out for 3/4" Ply.

Thanks

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Formerly JJH

I learn more from my mistakes than my successes

I built mine entirely out of plywood. But later, for some reason I cannot remember, I replaced the sides with MDF.

If you’re using light bulbs line the insides with foil, with a blanket mdf works fine.

I would not build it entirely out of MDF. Just the big sides. Cauls can be MDF (mine are).

MDF is really heavy and the edges split easily. I would go with plywood.

Last year I built a Fox-style bender from Georgia Luthier Supply drawings, which worked out nicely. So much of the assembly is done near the edges. You'll have the tool a long time. I encourage plywood. I think plywood is an order of magnitude sturdier and longer-lived than any kind of compressed wood stuff.

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Peter Havriluk

MDF is actually more stable than plywood and makes good jigs that need that kind of stability. But for the bender and body forms, I prefer plywood.

If you want to make MDF less splity along the edges, go over them several times with CA.

I agree. The only part of the bender I’d make out of MDF is the big sides. Mine has a plywood base etc, but my big sides are MDF. Works fine. Bent many many sets with it. But you don’t want to construct parts that require fasteners that go into the ends of MDF as it will split and not stay strong. That said, you could make base out of layers of MDF, but it’s gonna get heavy.

there are different plywoods Baltic birch is the more stable product and much more durable than mdf

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it