How to Apply Hardboard in Furniture Products

15 Feb.,2023

 

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Hardboard, also commonly referred to as high-density fiberboard (HDF), is an excellent material choice for a wide range of product’s construction. It is somehow similar to medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and particle board, but its construction makes it denser and stronger than the other materials. It is made out of exploded wood fibers that are highly compressed under heat and pressure through a wet process, and unlike solid wood, it is very homogeneous with no grains.

Tablex, an ecological hardboard product from Betanzos HB, is one of the best high density fiberboards used in construction of furniture products.

Why is hardboard great for furniture products?

Before being adopted into other applications such as paneling, flooring, decorations, construction, and packaging among others, hardboard has long been used for developing a wide range of furniture products. Its versatility, physical and mechanical resistance as well as good response to humidity makes it a great material choice for different types of furniture products including sofa interiors, drawer bottoms, bed base structures, furniture backs, drawer chests, office desks and more.

HDF wood boards have a uniform thickness, density and appearance. During construction, some materials may be added in the process to improve certain properties of the hardboard such as resistance to moisture and abrasion, as well as to improve its strength and durability. Additionally, HDF fiberboards can be cut, routed, shaped and drilled easily with standard working tools, making it very easy for carpenters to use them in furniture construction.

A HDF board can be securely glued or fastened with nails, screws or staples, another reason why it is easy to work with in many furniture construction applications. High density fiberboards can also be laminated with different overlays such as paper overlays, laminated papers, ceramics, Formica, veneer and vinyl to give them a specific desired furniture look. A wood veneer, for example, can be glued to the HDF board to give it the appearance of hard wood.

Salient benefits of hardboard to furniture products in a glance:

  • Resistance to elements – High density fiberboard is great in tolerating or resisting moisture, abrasion, temperature, stain, and fading.
  • Easy to work with – HDF boards make work easy for carpenters and DIY guys alike. The boards can be cut, shaped, routed and drilled easily with standard working tools. They can also be easily secured with screws, staples, or nails.
  • Custom finishes – The hardboards can be laminated with different overlays to achieve certain desired furniture finishes, such as that of solid wood.
  • Strength and durability – Due to its high density, hardboard offers more sturdiness to furniture products and hence guarantees them a longer life compared to other materials such as particle boards which can easily split or crack.

Guidelines for physical application of hardboards in furniture products

When using HDF boards in the construction of furniture, there are some key recommendations that a person should adhere to for successful results. This includes:

What to do during cutting hardboard?

To cut high density fiberboards, a crosscut saw is recommended because it’s more suitable for making straight cuts. A compass or coping saw may be used when cutting curved, irregular or along inside edges. A power saw may be applied when speed and extensive cutting is required.

To create designs and patterns on the board so as to give furniture a unique finish or appearance, a scoring tool is recommended. Remember, perforated hardboard designs or pegboard Tablex are readily available so there is no need to make unnecessary perforations on your design. Circular holes may be created with a twist drill or brace and bit, and rough edges may be smoothened out with fine-grit sandpaper. Hardboard is also a great fit for laser/plasma numerical control cutting.

Conditioning the hardboard panels

Before application, the hardboard panels should be well conditioned for at least 48 hours before application by standing them individually on their long edge. This allows them, as is the case with any wood panels, to equilibrate with the existing room conditions before application.

Framing and fastening the HDF boards during construction

HDF boards should only be fastened to framing members that are straight and have adequate nail holding properties. Solid backing is necessary for boards that are less than 3/16 inches thick.

Nailing and screwing hardboard

The center of the board should be fastened first when nailing, and the rest of board fastened by working away from the center towards the edges. Nailing should be done perpendicularly to the surface and spaced 8 inches apart on intermediate supports but 4 inches apart around the edges. Annular ring shanked nails are advised and they should be long enough to penetrate the nailing base by at least ¾ inches.

Nail heads can be concealed by sinking them below the surface of the board and filling the nail holes with a suitable material before priming. Nailing is not advised for boards less than 3/16 inches thick.

When screwing the boards, pre-drilling is required.

  • Using adhesives – Adhesives may be used when speed is desired in the furniture construction, or when the HDF boards are less than 3/16 inches in thickness. However, using glue means many ecological characteristics of a harboard will be lost.
  • Finishing – The furniture product’s surface should be clean and dry when preparing for finishes. The first coat should be very keenly applied, and it must be compatible with subsequent top coats. Manufacturer instructions are important here.

High density fiberboards are one of the best materials for furniture construction. Their benefits are immense and high density boards suppliers or high density fiberboards suppliers can outline for you even more benefits of HDF boards for your specific application.

If you are a professional buyer (wood trader, importer or distributor) interested in exploring more information about hardboard and it’s posibilities, ask our international sales team.  Betanzos HB is a manufacturer from Spain. We produce under the high EU standards regarding quality and legal security, which is also protected by the stability rate of exchange of the Euro.

If you have any questions on 2mm hardboard. We will give the professional answers to your questions.