How are these made...

[jashington]

Hopefully not too odd a question! But I was browsing eBay recently and came across the shelving below and was trying to work out how on earth they made it (it's MDF by the way). Can anyone shed some light on it please? thanks!

10500

[m.marino]

Honestly I can think of a bout three ways to build that and have it hold a light load of weight. Being mdf and rather shallow depth I would say that built as a square and then inner corners glued in and the outer routered off on a moulding spindle. Would be the fastest method for production, unless there was a high cost for labour, but I bet there isn't. -Michael

[EddyCurrent]

I would think MDF could be formed into many shapes other than flat sheets.
"MDF is a type of hardboard, which is made from wood fibres glued under heat and pressure."

[jashington]

Thanks Eddy !

I had thought about the MDF forming as being a possibility, I just can't see how it'd have been made using sheets of MDF (because of the obvious depth of the box) unless it was cut into four pieces and then joined?

[John McNamara]

Hi Jas

Browse these videos.
My guess is a thin formed shell with some sort of light weight core, maybe foam or cardboard, for your shelf.

https://www.google.com.au/?gfe_rd=ctrl&ei=h2prUq2nGqmN8QexpYH4BA&gws_rd=cr#psj=1&q=youtube+IKEA+factory

Or maybe this search.... Note Minus -Ikea in the search

https://www.google.com.au/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=6nFrUpXfLMmN8QeO7oHwCQ#psj=1&q=youtube+furniture+factory+-ikea

Regards
John

[Ger21]

Based on a pic I see in this auction, they're particle board, not MDF.
Wall Decor Shelf Shelves MDF Interior House Room Cube Round Shelf Hidden Bolt | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wall-Decor-Shelf-Shelves-MDF-Interior-house-room-Cube-Round-Shelf-Hidden-Bolt-/321238260742?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4acb4adc06)

It would appear that they are molded into that shape from the factory. There's no possibly way to make that from flat sheets and still make any money on it. Even for those working for $2/day.

[John McNamara]

They are only 20cm deep. I suspect they may be a simple vacuum forming, made from a heated sheet with vacuum over a former, then foam filled to give rigidity. A common process in industry.

https://www.google.com.au/?gfe_rd=ctrl&ei=A8RxUse9LMrC8geSnIGICw&gws_rd=cr#q=vacuum+forming

Regards
John

[paulus.v]

Nice question Jas! Molded into that shape and laminated with plastic? Impossible to get a smooth finish by molding. The particle board has a core layer made of larger particles and a surface layer made of smaller ones.

http://www.litco.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/650x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/p/a/pallet-molded-wood-24x20-2.jpg