Pressed wood is made by pressing wood fibers or particles together with a binding agent and heat. Chipboard is commonly used for inexpensive furniture, while medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is denser and more durable. Pallets are often made from pressed wood due to its low cost.
Pressed wood is a type of material made up of wood fibers or particles that are pressed together to form a cohesive unit. Some sort of binding agent, such as strong glues, may be used to help the particles stick together, and heat is usually applied during the process of creating the pressed wood. This inexpensive material has many uses, from being transported in the form of pallets, to building furniture or even making attractive veneers. While wood is inexpensive and relatively versatile, it is usually not very strong and can break quite easily when under load.
Chipboard is an example of pressed wood. This material is commonly used to make inexpensive furniture such as desks or chests of drawers. The wood particles are pressed together and an adhesive is used to form a cohesive structure. Wood tends to be quite light and is durable to some extent. However, particleboard can splinter quite easily, so a wood veneer is usually glued in to prevent damage from direct impacts. Veneer can mimic the grain and tone of hardwoods, meaning this wood product can be made reasonably attractive.
Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is another type of pressed wood made solely of hardwood and softwood fibers rather than a composite of fibers and veneers. MDF tends to be much denser than particle board, which makes it much more durable. Like hard and softwoods, MDF can be cut, glued, or nailed, although some nails may not hold up very well. When MDF pieces are cut, a fine dust is released into the air and this dust can be hazardous to the health of the cutter, as the binding agent used in the creation of this pressed wood usually contains formaldehyde. Respirators must therefore be worn when cutting MDF.
Because pressed wood tends to be inexpensive, manufacturing companies often use such woods for pallets, which are wooden frames used to store and lift heavy objects using a forklift. Pallets come in a variety of styles, shapes, and sizes, and pressed timbers can be changed quite easily into custom shapes to meet the manufacturer’s needs. Pallets can, for example, be designed to be stacked when not in use, thus reducing the storage space required. If the pallet breaks, the business will not suffer a significant cost loss, as the pallet is cheap to start with.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
