Valchromat

Overview

Valchromat is a fibreboard dyed all the way through. Cutting Edge CNC describes it as combining wood fibres with dye so that the colour is present throughout the depth of the board, available in an array of 12 colours. Remodelista, quoting the maker's description, says the fibres are individually dyed, bonded with a special resin, and that it is "not MDF", with moisture resistance, greater internal cohesion and bending resistance, and lower tool abrasion. The attraction is a solid-colour board whose cut edges look as good as the faces.

Pros

• Colour runs through, so edges and routed profiles show colour, not brown core.
• Machines cleanly, with lower tool abrasion than MDF (Remodelista).
• Moisture resistant and with greater bending resistance than standard MDF, according to the maker's description as quoted by Remodelista.
• Many colours: Trinity lists black, greys, white, yellow, orange, red, blue, purple, green, berry, royal, sand, khaki and more.
• Thicknesses from 3 to 30 mm (Trinity).

Cons

• Expensive compared with MDF: Cutting Edge CNC lists 19 mm black at GBP 136 and White Pearl at GBP 220, against GBP 45.50 for 18 mm standard MDF.
• Limited supply in the US; Trinity, the North American distributor, sells small cut panels online and asks you to call for full sheets, and notes that freight for a few sheets averages at least $450.
• Colour variations and fibre pigmentation differences occur between batches (Trinity).
• Not stainable and hard to touch up if scratched.
• Not for outdoor use; I did not find a source rating it exterior.

Variants and subspecies

• Standard and robust: Uniboards lists black Valchromat 18 mm in "Standard & Robust" finishes at GBP 140.44.
• Colours: black is cheapest; White Pearl costs more at 19 mm; Fibracolor black is a similar-composition board (Cutting Edge CNC).
• Cut-size panels: Trinity sells 12 by 12 in, 24 by 24 in and 24 by 47.5 in panels, $6 to $91.
• Standard and moisture-resistant MDF: see MDF (medium-density fibreboard) and Moisture-resistant MDF.
• Ultralight MDF: Ultralight MDF.

Working and finishing

Cut with carbide tools; Remodelista notes it wears tools less than MDF. Sand lightly and finish with clear oil, wax or lacquer to protect the colour; the edges show the colour, so leave them exposed rather than banded. Test finishes on scrap, because oil deepens the colour.

Staining and finishing colour

You do not stain it. The colour is the board. Clear oil or lacquer deepens the colour and protects it; paint hides the point of the material.

Sustainability and handling

Valchromat is a wood-fibre product with a special resin. I did not find a source giving its formaldehyde class, so confirm with the distributor. In the US, EPA TSCA Title VI limits apply to MDF and similar panels (checked 2026-09-30). Dust is fine; use extraction. Panels are heavy.

Popular projects

CNC-cut furniture, signs and displays, shop fittings, shelving, drawer fronts and models.

Buying notes

UK prices (GBP ex-VAT, 1220 by 2440 mm): black 8 mm 69, 12 mm 91, 16 mm 117, 19 mm 136, 30 mm 224; other colours 76, 96, 133, 146, 238. In the US, Trinity Innovations sells cut panels and full sheets by quote. Check the colour batch before buying multiples.