HDF is a dense and strong board that provides a smooth and uniform surface wherever it is used. HDF does not have any grain and unlike wood, resists cracking in temperature and humidity changes. This makes it, along with MDF, a popular choice for painted finish cabinet doors.
HDF is far more dense/heavy than particle board or MDF. HDF has an even thickness all throughout and is smooth on both sides. It is a type of hardboard made from wood or hardwood fiber extracted from chips and pulped wood which has been glued and heated under great pressure. It has a density greater than 50 pounds per cubic foot or 800 kg per cubic meter.
HDF and MDF are not the same as particle board which is produced by heat pressing wood chips and saw-dust and immovably squeezing them together to make sheets creating a very loose structure.
Plywood is generally the better product when it comes to cabinet boxes. It has superior construction longevity because it holds screws and other mechanical fasteners more efficiently. It has superior tensile and shearing properties (it resists pulling forces and side-to-side movement) and a slight advantage in compressive strength (the ability to bear weight). All of our cabinet boxes are 1/2" - 5/8" A-grade plywood. No particle board.
