Finding the perfect material for your project can sometimes seem challenging, which can undoubtedly beg the question: which is right for me? Well, if the decision comes down to particle board vs fiber board, this choice can feel even more overwhelming, given the massive similarities between these materials. As such, today, we’ve outlined some of the main things you should know about particle board and fiber board to help you choose between these two seemingly similar products.
What is Particle Board?
First, let’s take a look at particle board to see how this material might work for your needs. Simply put, particle board is a specialist material that’s made from small wooden particles of varying sizes, compressed into a single wooden panel with the application of resin that can be used for a range of applications.
Generally speaking, particle board is a popular choice for flatpack furniture due to its affordability and weight to strength ratio. Particle board can also be used in flooring and wall paneling applications, among others.
Perhaps one of the main benefits of particle board is its ability to take on various finishes. It can often be sprayed with melamine, gloss or wax to help waterproof and provide a higher quality finish. However, it is very brittle and can easily be damaged with heavy handling, so care is always crucial when using particle board for your projects.
What is Fiber Board?
Another great option you could potentially consider for your project is fiber board. As the name suggests, is made up from wood fibers that are packed together to form a type of wood board, following a very similar process to particle board creation.
However, while particle board is generally considered to be a “one size fits all” type of product, there are actually several different type of fiber boards, and these each vary in terms of the wood used to manufacture them. These include low density fiber board, medium density fiber noard, and high density fiber board.
Naturally, each type of fiber board has its own uses and role. The density reflects how hard and strong the material is; in other words, low density means the fibres are less tightly packed, which creates a light but weaker board, while high density has tightly packed fibers and often comes from hardwood.
Fiber board is very popular with furniture designers due to its low cost, excellent durability, and overall impressive strength. It can also be easily tailored to the project with a high quality finish. The finer finish on such wood panels allows for paint to be easily applied.
Which is Best?
As with all materials, there are benefits and disadvantages of using a particular wood over another. One of the biggest factors to consider what are you planning to use it for?
Often, particle board is used in larger pieces where less cutting and tool work is required due to its brittle nature. It can also require less specialist tools to work with, which makes it much more practical for DIY projects and those with a limited budget. With that being said, fiber board is incredibly cheap to buy and also offers excellent weight to strength ratio.
If you’d like to find out more about the differences between fiber board and particle board, please don’t hesitate to contact our experts here at Tacon Wood today at taconsales86@gmail.com. We’re here to help!
