SPEAKER BUILDING TIPS

BOX MATERIALS:
Warning!  These jpg files are large!  Some are 1280x1024.  Some are around 180kb.  I wanted detail to show up.
MDF (a close-up, another close-up with a chip) - I consider this to be the stuff that's similar to hardboard, only thicker and denser.  It's almost like layers of paper rather than individual particles.  When you saw it, it leaves a smooth, almost "velvety" edge.  One place I've seen this used is in table tops of "folding leg" tables (roughly 6' x 30" rectangular or 5' in diameter) like in schools and churches for dinner tables or work tables.  You know the kind - the legs fold up and you stack them in a corner or against the wall.  They are very heavy.  Side Note:  Hardboard (see comparison pictures) - consider this to be the thin (1/8" or so) stuff that's used for pegboard and tile board.  Sometimes it is oil impregnated for water resistance.  Similar to the MDF, it is like pressed, glued paper for lack of a better description.  This is not useful for speaker enclosures unless perhaps as part of a constrained layer system.  I just mention it because I consider it is a close relative to MDF.

Particle Board (a close-up) - I consider this to be like coarse sawdust that's been glued together.  Used in countertops and as underlayment for floors - note that this is not wafer board.  Some people use the term "chip board" to describe it, but that sounds too much like a description for wafer board which really does have chips in it.  Apparently, there are various versions with some having very small particles approaching the look of MDF (not quite, but almost).  This is one of the coarser versions which flakes easily.

Oriented Strand Board (OSB)  - I call this "wafer board".  As someone pointed out, OSB is the technical name.  This is the stuff used for floor and roof sheathing.  Some people call this "chip board" which is probably more accurate here since it really is chips or "wafers" of wood that have been glued and pressed together - Not at all like particle board.  Again, I would still avoid the term "chip board" as some people use the term for particle board.  (I wouldn't use the term "chip board" at all in either case.)  I don't think this is very suitable material for speaker boxes (unless they are very small boxes).  Again, it might be useful in constrained layer construction.

Straw board  (another picture compared to particleboard and a close-up) - Yes, STRAW BOARD!  I found this at Lowes for use in attics and it is made from and smells like straw.  I thought I might use this under a set of floor joists to partially seal a "chamber" for my little 10 inch "infinite baffle."  My basement ceiling drywall will lay across the straw board.  (I don't like drywall as an enclosure wall.)  

Comparison pictures  (also this, this close-up and this close-up) of MDF, Particle board and Hard board.  Note that left to right is MDF, then particleboard, then hardboard (you may have to scroll left).  I hope these show the differences a little better (minus the obvious wafer board).  This picture shows a corner of my sub box.  I had to use MDF for one of the sides as I ran out of particle board.  Here is another with MDF on the left, particle board on the right.

I'm sure there are many other materials (sonotube comes to mind as does real wood, concrete, PVC tubes, etc...), but I mainly started out showing the difference between MDF and particle board since this question seems to pop up all the time.  Instead of trying to describe the differences, now people can see the difference.

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