Question for Melamine enclosures - Page 2

KORBIN5895 · 01-21-12, 11:32 AM

Actually melamine and it's finished variations ( like oak vaneer) are going to last just as long as regular plywood.

The main difference between plywood and compressed particle board is that plywood is several.layers glued together and have planes that can be potentially weak and split. Plywood does hold screws better than compressed wood. Furniture grade plywood is also meeting expensive than compressed wood with a vaneer finish.

Compressed wood on the other hand has no planes that could fracture and split because it is basically a sheet of industrial strength glue with wood chips as a filler. It is much denser than plywood and can stand more pressure. It doesn't hold up well when putting screws in and removing them often. As long as you aren't taking said item apart often it should out last most other materials.

Gungirl · 01-21-12, 12:54 PM

To me Malemine is cardboard with a coating on it. I refuse to use anything but real wood. I use a high grade maple cabinet plywood to do my building. If I can not build it out of high quality stuff I won't build it at all.

peterm15 · 01-21-12, 01:01 PM

You could actually use cardboard if you sealed it right,
I once made a turtle pool out of plywood, held water well. Epoxy sealer, about 20 coats.

If you are wanting it to last the life of the snake i would stay away from malemine. One leak in the seal and its a 2 year cage.

Im running on 8 years with my plywood cage. No problems.

KORBIN5895 · 01-21-12, 01:43 PM

I saw a buddy drop a plywood cabinet with a maple finish. One side split in half down a plane. Distance dropped? 3"

Gungirl · 01-21-12, 01:45 PM

It was obviously not made of quality plywood or had moisture damage. Good plywood is not fragile like you are trying to make it out to be. I could drop any one of my vivs down a flight of stairs and the most that would happen is the wood would get dented and scratched.

peterm15 · 01-21-12, 02:16 PM

I've dropped melamine from less then a foot and had the screws pop out and the glue rip out some of the particle. Had to replace the entire side and reseal again.

mykee · 01-21-12, 04:58 PM

Quote:

To me Malemine is cardboard with a coating on it""

Lol.
To me, a roast beef sandwich is poodle without fur.

I like this game.
To me, a chair is a pencil with an eraser on it.

KORBIN5895 · 01-21-12, 07:14 PM

Lol! I expected mykee was going to jump on the plywood side( not sure why though). I always look forward to your post mykee!

dshin963 · 01-21-12, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykee

Lol.
To me, a roast beef sandwich is poodle without fur.

I like this game.
To me, a chair is a pencil with an eraser on it.

^awesome hahaha
And really 40 dollars you say? At rona? Marine grade? Im in! Home depot normal melamine is like 30... Still trying to figure out what sealant and caulking I should use though....

I have got a few blueprints on the thing and gonna get a carpenter I know to make them for me.. As well as a few racks

peterm15 · 01-21-12, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dshin963

^awesome hahaha
And really 40 dollars you say? At rona? Marine grade? Im in! Home depot normal melamine is like 30... Still trying to figure out what sealant and caulking I should use though....

I have got a few blueprints on the thing and gonna get a carpenter I know to make them for me.. As well as a few racks

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykee

Dan; nope, $39.99 for a 4' X 8' sheet at Rona.

Not marine grade.

Cam · 04-14-12, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

The main difference between plywood and compressed particle board is that plywood is several.layers glued together and have planes that can be potentially weak and split. Plywood does hold screws better than compressed wood. Furniture grade plywood is also meeting expensive than compressed wood with a vaneer finish.

Compressed wood on the other hand has no planes that could fracture and split because it is basically a sheet of industrial strength glue with wood chips as a filler. It is much denser than plywood and can stand more pressure. It doesn't hold up well when putting screws in and removing them often. As long as you aren't taking said item apart often it should out last most other materials.

I have to take issue with this. A lot of what you're saying is true insofar as particle board having no internal laminate planes, however identifying those planes as weak points I disagree with wholeheartedly. Properly manufactured plywood alternates grain directions with each layer and uses waterproof laminating adhesive that is generally stronger than the wood itself. A plywood board will be stronger and tougher than a "regular" board of similar wood and MUCH stronger than a melamine board.

I've worked with both materials extensively and I currently have 2 very large aquariums built from sealed 3/4" plywood. I would never have considered using melamine or particle board, even discounting the issues it has with moisture.

The advantages melamine has for vivariums (as I see them) are

1) you get a pre-finished, nice looking water resistant surface right out of the box, as long as you seal the edges.
2) It may be cheaper than G1S plywood, particularly considering that the plywood needs to be sealed.
3) You don't have to mess with potentially toxic sealants.

Those are all pretty strong points, and I'm not trying to say Melamine a "bad" material, but in no way can it be considered stronger or tougher than good quality plywood.

Cam · 04-14-12, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterm15

I've dropped melamine from less then a foot and had the screws pop out and the glue rip out some of the particle. Had to replace the entire side and reseal again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

I saw a buddy drop a plywood cabinet with a maple finish. One side split in half down a plane. Distance dropped? 3"

Both these examples don't really say anything about anything. A properly built piece out of either material should withstand fairly heavy abuse without coming apart. If you don't use the right glue, enough screws, the right thickness of material, proper bracing, etc. Obviously it will break if you abuse it.

I once decimated an entire Ikea vanity/dresser with a good solid kick... it doesn't really mean anything other than the thing was crappily made.

Xanafein · 04-14-12, 06:28 PM

Im on the Side of furniture Grade hardwood plywood. Im particularly fond of Birch, At my home depot its 44.97 a sheet, that seems the be the cheapest in my Area, 2 sheets builds you a Nice 4x2x2 also you can seal and use a VOC free lacquer on it after its been sanded and cleaned up a bit, and you will capture the woods natural Grain, Throw in some 4 ' brown plastic 1/4" glass tracks, some 1/4" inch acrylic and then all you need is a jigsaw for vents a drill for wiring and presto a beautiful piece of furniture that if built and sealed right you can give to your Kids hell if you are feeling fancy throw in some molding, a brass door pull, a jewelers case lock and a vinyl floor sheet for the bottom