What is the difference between, "wood composite" and "particle board"?

Question

I'm looking to get my kiddo a quality book shelf and I hate particle board. I just want to make sure that I'm getting something that'll last for years and years.

Answer 1

No difference in fact, they are "both" junk, garbage! You should start looking in antique stores, concession stores, garage sales and thrift stores, even an unfinished furniture store too, when they have closeout sales you can buy it and finish it together. Ash,  Oak, maple are all hard woods and can be stained to match any decor. even the melamine is c**p and the shelves sag under weight, you can not beat a hard wood bookcase. Try craigslist too

Answer 2

particle board is a branch of wood composites . wood composites are said to every substance that is mad from wood and other materials like resins . we also have wood plastics as wood composites because it is the combination of wood and plastics ( actually wood flour and plastics like PP or PE) .

we have a lots of wood composites like MDF,PARTICLE BOARD,WOOD PLASTICE COMPOSITES(WPC) , PLYWOODS and ... .

let me explain each of them in few senetences:

MDF : or medium density fiberboard .

its a wood composites it is the combination of wood fibers ( wood fibers are different from wood particles,wood fibers are produced via digesters and like the wood fibers that use in making papers but instead of papers now they used for making boards) and resins mostly the resin is UF (Urea Formaldehyde ) . they use maybe 10-12 % of resin for each board. the MDF density is 0.7 gr/cm3 its lower that water so it shoul stay on water . when you see the edge of a MDF board you wont see any wood particles you think that its a big thickness paper. when you cut it with saws its more better that particles boards and you can have more good edges . now adays it is popular .

Particle boards: it is like MDF but instead of wood fibers now we have wood particles we can see the wood particles when we say the edge of a particle board . the density os also 0.7 gr/cm3 so its stay on water . it is cheaper than MDF now adays! but its strength more than MDF or like it and MDF doesnt have any superior things than Particle board instead of its machinery works .

wood plastics : we have wood flour and the powder of plastics and mix it in a extruder and make sheets or profiles . the density of wood plastics are more than 1 and they immerse in water . they use more in flooring stuff and in parks nowadays .

Plywoods : are wood layers that attach with resins together the reisns are most UF or some how PF(phenol formaldehyde) they are most use in making of furnitures and has good strength .

I think that if you want to buy a raw material i mean without the veneer on it . its better to use MDF because its edge are good for your child and wont bother him/her . but if it is covered by veneer it doesnt matter the MDF or particle boards because of the unfair commercial of MDF s particle boards are not popular these days . but i promise you that all of the tests and studings show that there is no different between particle boards and MDFs . MDF s are not water proofs ! or somethings ! if they are more resist to water its for their veneer ! we can use that veneer for particle boards too !

so there is not any huge differences between MDF and particle boards when its veneered:)

Hope it helped you

Answer 3

The size of the particles - composite is made from wood flour, and particle board is made from fine wood chips (hence its other common name). Either will be as good as the finish that is put on it, and both will droop if overloaded. You can get these boards either foil laminated of veneered, but neither will be as durable as solid timber. IKEA do solid wood versions (eg Leksvik) which would seem your best bet.

Answer 4

wood composite is made from smaller wood particle than particle board and is much stronger and less flexible

Answer 5

wood composite is MDF, basically it is like particle board, but the particles are finer.

as for how long it will last... well, any finish will probably come off easily, If you want something nice buy hardwood furniture