Ply or MDF

[Buba b]

Hi All
Im thinking about building a moving gantry router with a 14"x 18" surface area and just wondered if there are any reasons not to make it out of ply. All the routers ive seen have been made out of MDF but i can get my hands on lots of marine grade ply for fee. Are the any benifts to making out of MDF over ply ? i know price would be one , just thinking about the density might be an isue.
Thanks

[Dr Snuggles]

Hi Buba,I'm new to this so the experts might disagree, but I cant see any reason for not using ply (I am using some along with mdf on my build - see router builds)
Only problem you could have is warping,but you get that with mdf.My thinking is,if it's free - use it.

[ptjw7uk]

Cannot see any reason why not, lots better than mdf after all they made aeroplanes out of ply in the last war!
You are almost certainly going to have some metal parts in the system, rails etc ply is stronger.
If worried paint it keep the damp at bay, mind you some marine ply isnt! just water resistant.

Peter