Hi all,  I am new to this list.  Has anyone made wood pipes using
MDF board?  It is much lower cost than boards of pine or oak or maple.
It comes in thickness of 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4", etc.  What would be
the best sealer to use on this board material?

Most of the new lumber available these days is not very good quality
unless you want to spend big bucks.  If you spend more, or a lot of
money on wood for the pipes, then the finished band organ price goes
way up.  I was thinking of laminating hardwood to MDF to be used on
the speaking edges of the pipes.  The rest of the pipe would be medium
density fiberboard to cut back cost and also to have a very stable
material if coated in a sealer material.

I know the pipes would weigh more using MDF but not enough to add that
much overall total weight.  I have all the wood working equipment to
cut MDF, carbide tipped, etc.

Any and all help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Steve Lewin

 [ A scientific study commissioned by a Dutch organ builder concluded
 [ that the wall material of an organ pipe has no effect on the tone
 [ as long as it is adequately stiff.  Carl Frei made nice sounding
 [ pipes of cheap box wood for Dutch street organs.  The organ builder
 [ balances the cost of the materials against the ease of construction
 [ and voicing the pipes.  Therefore you might ask, "Why don't
 [ professional organ builders use MDF?"  I hope that an experienced
 [ organ builder will reply to MMD!  ;-)   -- Robbie