Download Columbia's Complete Hardwood Plywood Core Guide.
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Veneer Core Made with alternating veneer inner plies. Veneer core panels are relatively light in comparison with composite panels, typically weighing about 70 lbs. per 3/4” panel. Veneer core offers great strength and stability with better spanning properties than either PBC or MDF. |
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Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) Core MDF is made in a production process similar to PBC except that all of wood particles are small and uniform like sawdust. MDF offers great stability and is the least likely to react when subjected to a measurable change in temperature or humidity. It offers a very smooth, void-free surface for veneer faces. MDF has greater strength and screw holding properties than particleboard and weighs around 100 lbs. |
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Particleboard Core (PBC) Raw PBC is composed of wood particles which vary in size bonded together with urea formaldehyde or, by special order, no-added urea formaldehyde systems. PBC is the least expensive core option for hardwood plywood, offering a smooth, void-free surface for veneer faces. PBC is very uniform in thickness and density. PBC is one of the heaviest core options for hardwood plywood construction, weighing as much as 100 lbs per 3/4” panel. |
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Combination Core with Composite Crossbands Constructed of veneer core inner plies with particleboard or MDF crossbands. Offers similar strength and stability to veneer core but has the void-free surface quality of PBC or MDF. Excellent substrate for thin sliced woods and rotary woods, reducing the potential for core transfer. |
