MDF Basics
MDF vs Plywood: Which Should You Use?
The single most common question in any carpenter's workshop. MDF and plywood are both engineered wood, but they behave very differently in use. Here's how to choose between them based on application, not habit.
MDF: flat, consistent, paintable — ideal for painted furniture and prelam shutters
Plywood: stronger in bending, better screw-holding — ideal for structural carcasses and doors
Cost: MDF is typically 20–30% cheaper than comparable plywood for the same thickness
See MDF Boards
Grades Explained
MR, BWR, BWP: Plywood Grades Decoded
Moisture resistance grading in plywood is one of the most misunderstood specifications in the trade. Getting it wrong means rotting kitchen carcasses or cracked bathroom panels.
MR (Moisture Resistant, IS:303): interior use, dry areas only — living rooms, bedrooms
BWR (Boiling Water Resistant, IS:303): kitchens and areas with indirect moisture exposure
BWP (Boiling Water Proof, IS:710): under sinks, bathrooms, direct water contact areas
See Plywood Range
Kitchen Interiors
The Right Material for Every Part of a Kitchen
A kitchen has multiple zones — carcass, shutters, countertop, skirting — and each needs a different material. Using prelam MDF for the carcass or MR plywood under a sink are common mistakes that lead to callbacks.
Carcass: BWP plywood (IS:710) for strength and moisture resistance
Shutters: Prelam HDHMR or Prelam HDF — hard surface, factory finish, moisture-tolerant
Countertop: HPL Compact (Abraze) 12mm — scratch-proof, heat-resistant, hygienic
See HDHMR Boards
Cost Saving
How Cut-to-Size Panels Reduce Workshop Waste
Every carpenter has off-cut stacks in the corner of their workshop. Optimised CNC cutting of your cut list from an 8×4 sheet can reduce material wastage from 25–30% down to under 10%, without changing how you design furniture.
Send your cut list — we optimise the nesting before cutting
Panels arrive numbered and labelled — no measuring, just assembly
Add edge banding at the same step — panels arrive assembly-ready
See Cut-to-Size Service
Finishes
PU vs Duco vs 2K PU: Which Finish for Which Job?
Spray finish choices affect durability, appearance and cost — and the right finish depends on substrate, environment, and how much wear the surface will see. Here's the practical difference for furniture in Nagpur's climate.
PU Finish: most common for wood and MDF furniture — good durability, cost-effective
Duco: smooth, hard, high-gloss — for shutters and panels where you want a piano-finish look
2K PU: two-component, highest durability — for kitchen shutters, commercial furniture
See Spray Finish
Edge Banding
Why ABS Edge Banding Beats Hand-Applied PVC Tape
The edge of a panel is its most vulnerable point — moisture, impact, peeling. Hand-applied tape is the fastest way to finish an edge on site, but machine-applied ABS banding produces a result that lasts 10× longer and looks far better.
Machine hot-melt application creates a chemical bond — not an adhesive layer that peels
1mm and 2mm ABS absorbs minor knocks without chipping or separating
Matching shades available for all Action Tesa prelam board colours
See Edge Banding
Waterproofing
WPC vs Plywood for Outdoor and Wet Areas
Nagpur's extreme summer heat (42°C+) and monsoon humidity put outdoor furniture under serious stress. Standard plywood swells, delaminates and rots. WPC composite boards — like Relwood — are engineered specifically for these conditions.
Zero water absorption — no swelling, no delamination, even in direct rain
Termite-proof core — Nagpur's timber termites can't damage WPC
Machines and paints like wood — familiar to carpenters, no new tools needed
See Relwood WPC
Shade Cards
How to Read a Prelam Shade Card — and Order the Right Shade
Ordering prelam boards by colour name leads to the wrong shade 30% of the time. Each manufacturer has their own shade numbering system. Here's how to get the exact shade your client approved.
Always order by shade code, not colour name — "Wenge" means different things to Action Tesa and Greenpanel
Request the physical shade card from our store — screens can't show finish texture accurately
Match edge tape shade codes at the same time — order board + tape together for guaranteed match
Request a Shade Card
