Vibration difference between MDF and Melamine particle board?

[Brett a]

So, I've realized the inch-an-a-quarter slabs I've had under my equipment (including my TT) to absorb vibration are actually something that HD sells as "Melamine" which isn't MFD like I thought it was. It seems to have a lower fiber density and is covered with some sort of Formica laminate.
I cut my pieces from an old school desk top (like a big metal-based teacher's desk).

Any idea if this stuff functions well as a vibration absorber, or should I replace it with real MDF?

[Mark W.]

Between the two there is no way you could ever tell any difference. MDF is more dense it also splits easier when putting screws into the edge. If what you have is working for you I wouldn't bother.

Oh also if what you have came from a desk it is not the same as Melamine which is a paper thin coating of WHITE only vinyl and would never hold up to being a desk top.

[jaymanaa]

I've been trying to figure out some turntable bases too. I found a pair of Empire speakers at a junk shop that had marble tops and sounded absolutely horrid. I'm going to experiment with using the marble to set a table on (it's just the right size). My thinking is that I want some weight, but I'm not sure why.:scratch2:

[luvvinvinyl]

I have an Omega isolation platform which has 2.5" of MDF wrapped in Macassar ebony, and sits on three adjustable 1.5" cones. It works very well, for isolation, for a non-suspended chassis TT, but wasn't enough for a suspended table, an Ariston RD-11s. That took a wall shelf.

[Brett a]

Oh also if what you have came from a desk it is not the same as Melamine which is a paper thin coating of WHITE only vinyl and would never hold up to being a desk top.

Thanks. This nomenclature is a bit confusing. HD is selling a plank material that looks like the stuff I harvested from the desk. They are calling it "Melamine". I've realized from a post on another website that the similarity I was picking up on is in the substrate material; a fiber-board material of moderate density. The panels I have are finished with fake woodgrain, so I'd guess are likely Formica.

Between the two there is no way you could ever tell any difference. I'm holding out for the possibility :)


If what you have is working for you I wouldn't bother.
I'm actually looking forward to the work of making new panels. The fact I may spend two hours obsessing on something that may not have audible difference is not lost on me. This is all playing---it's cheap fun!

:banana:

[Brett a]

I have an Omega isolation platform which has 2.5" of MDF wrapped in Macassar ebony, and sits on three adjustable 1.5" cones. It works very well, for isolation, for a non-suspended chassis TT, but wasn't enough for a suspended table, an Ariston RD-11s. That took a wall shelf.

My TT is unsuspended. I'm getting a new cartride any day now (An AT440MLa) and will be setting it all up this weekend. I'm going to play around with some stuff I have on hand--MDF, Celotex, bubble wrap. I have a set of cones (3) that I will put under whatever panel system I end up with. Also, the base itself will be spiked to the floor. It will be a third crate full of records same as the two you can see in my photo link below.

Excellent quote in your sig. btw.

[satterfi]

I'm actually looking forward to the work of making new panels. The fact I may spend two hours obsessing on something that may not have audible difference is not lost on me. This is all playing---it's cheap fun!



Do some research on "Constrained Layer Damping". Here's a relatively untechnical start for you.

www.earsc.com/pdfs/engineering/understandingdamping.pdf

You'll be able to make better panels than you ever thought possible.

[Mark W.]

I'm actually looking forward to the work of making new panels. The fact I may spend two hours obsessing on something that may not have audible difference is not lost on me. This is all playing---it's cheap fun!

:banana:

OK In that case as a true DIY nut case (me) Go for it you might just end up with something that looks way better. If it sounds better a bonus. I do stuff with my system just for the visual pleasure. I don't have the skill base to mess with the electronics's so I mess with the furniture gives me something to do LOL

[kyle]

This is from WiseGeek.com

Melamine is an organic compound that is often combined with formaldehyde to produce melamine resin, a synthetic polymer which is fire resistant and heat tolerant. Melamine resin is a very versatile material with a highly stable structure. Uses for melamine include whiteboards, floor tiles, kitchenware, fire retardant fabrics, and commercial filters. Melamine can be easily molded while warm, but will set into a fixed form. This property makes it ideally suited to certain industrial applications.

Melamine resin is manufactured by mixing urea with formaldehyde under heat and pressure. The substances begin to polymerize and are forced into a mold which will create the desired shape. Under pressure, melamine releases water, which could make the plastic unstable if it is not removed. The materials finish polymerizing and create a finished product, melamine resin.

Melamine resin is known as a thermoset plastic, because the plastic is fixed after molding. If exposed to enough heat, melamine will melt. For this reason, melamine dishware should not be exposed to high temperatures like those in the oven and microwave. However, the plastic is able to withstand higher temperatures than other plastics. Because it is a thermoset plastic, melamine resin is difficult to recycle.

Melamine can be made into a foam product. Melamine foam has a distinctive structure composed of stacked bubble shapes, which are extremely hard and therefore can easily clean a wide variety of substances. Melamine foam is marketed under a variety of commercial names including Magic Eraser, a cleaning tool well known for removing scuffs and dirt from a wide range of surfaces.

Melamine resin is used in Formica and similar construction products made from composite materials. Formica is made using melamine resin, which is used to coat the fibers in the upper layer of the construction product. The melamine resin makes the end result heat resistant, so that hot objects can be set on the counter without concern. The surface of the material is designed to be easily wiped and cleaned, creating a long lived household product.

Melamine also plays a role in a wide range of flame resistant materials. These include textiles used in upholstery and the uniforms worn by firemen. Thermal liners, heat resistant gloves, and aprons to protect from splashback of hot substances are made using melamine. Melamine will protect a wearer from heat hazards, and will help to resist the spread of fire in aircraft and buses by providing a fire blocker.

Melamine is also used in the manufacture of some filters. The material is porous and will admit substances to pass through, but can be used to filter out particles of a particular size. Melamine filters are capable of handling a high capacity and can be used in hot environments due to the heat resistance of melamine. Melamine filters are also extremely efficient.

Aside from common commercial uses, melamine became a topic of much discussion in early 2007, when veterinary scientists determined it to be the cause of hundreds of pet deaths, because of pet food contamination. Prior to these reports, melamine had been regarded as non-toxic or minimally toxic. However, because of the unexplained presence of melamine in wheat gluten added to mass-produced dog and cat foods, it is the most likely cause. Pet owners report symptoms that are commonly associated with renal failure, which could be explained by the ammonia that may result from the digestion of the melamine.

[Fred Longworth]

In a vibratory transmission line, hard surfaces like Melamine can pose a problem, because they are conducive to rattling.

Consider the figurine sitting on the back of the piano which rattles every time the pianist hits a certain note. Now, put a simple piece of plastic cut from a plastic bag UNDER the figurine, and note how this partially suppresses the vibration. Next, put a thin layer of rubber UNDER the figurine, and note how this completely suppresses the vibration.

Thus, Melamine on the outside of a speaker enclosure would be acceptable, but underneath a turntable might pose a problem.

Fred