Another example - consider the number of homebuilt aircraft built with MDF -- 0. And the wing structure is an oversize torsion box! MDF has its place, but a plywood - torsion box will have much better mechanical properties. |
They also build model planes out of balsa wood, but I wouldn't be building a router out of one.
Comparing planes to a router is nonsensical. The wings in a plane are designed to act as shock absorbers. They can bend and flex in strong wind, and especially in high turbulence. Taking a look at
this video will clearly show their design goals of a wing. To top it off, planes need to be kept light and vibrations are less of a concern. In that sense, MDF makes no sense at all.
On the contrary the weight of a router is the opposite of a plane. The more the merrier. Making it heavier you will be dampening the vibrations caused by the router, allowing for smoother finishes. Also, denser materials tend to bend less, making for a structure that flexes less.