Hi,
I've been working with particleboard for some time... (hum, months). The one
I bought looks like sand of wood compressed and glued. When cutting, it
smells like wood and resin. I though it was MDF. But some time ago a friend
bought a "MDF panel" with another supplier. But it looks more to a thick
cartoon, specially in the edges that after cutting are very smooth and soft,
nothing alike wood. Then which is MDF, mine or friend's board? How many
types of MDF exists? Which one is better suited for cabinetting or other
cheap furniture making?
Thanks in advance
Faustino
Faustino:
I would avoid using MDF for any furniture building.
The stuff is not that easy to work with in the
context of joints. Doors, are ok. The best use
I used it for was for garage cabinets. Frankly
it's a pain to join pieces together. People
seem to have great success, I did not.
MDF is the cardboard type of material. Particle
board is made of scraps of lumber and has a
"rougher" appearance.
Danny Proulx has a website where he touts
the use of MDF for a variety of cabinet making:
http://www.cabinetmaking.com/
Good luck!
MJ Wallace
Deffinitively my friend's board is MDF. He offered to give me some parts for
my project but when I touched it I didn't liked it. It looks too fragile and
no water resistant at all, i.e. not to use on kitchen's cabinets. At least
working with scraps of lumber I feel more a "woodworker" than working with
sand of paper.... ;-)
Thanks for all
"MJ Wallace" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Faustino:
>
> I would avoid using MDF for any furniture building.
> The stuff is not that easy to work with in the
> context of joints. Doors, are ok. The best use
> I used it for was for garage cabinets. Frankly
> it's a pain to join pieces together. People
> seem to have great success, I did not.
>
> MDF is the cardboard type of material. Particle
> board is made of scraps of lumber and has a
> "rougher" appearance.
>
> Danny Proulx has a website where he touts
> the use of MDF for a variety of cabinet making:
> http://www.cabinetmaking.com/
>
> Good luck!
>
> MJ Wallace
Particle board actually has distinguishable flakes or layers of wood. Very
coarse on the edges. MDF does not look like wood at all but more of a
compressed mixed of wood dust. Normally MDF will swell within a matter of
minutes if you let water stand on it. MDF cuts and mills like a dream.
Many cabinet door and interior doors have MDF skins as it paints well.
"Faustino Dina" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Hi,
> I've been working with particleboard for some time... (hum, months). The
one
> I bought looks like sand of wood compressed and glued. When cutting, it
> smells like wood and resin. I though it was MDF. But some time ago a
friend
> bought a "MDF panel" with another supplier. But it looks more to a thick
> cartoon, specially in the edges that after cutting are very smooth and
soft,
> nothing alike wood. Then which is MDF, mine or friend's board? How many
> types of MDF exists? Which one is better suited for cabinetting or other
> cheap furniture making?
>
> Thanks in advance
> Faustino
>
>
On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 13:22:28 -0600, "Faustino Dina"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Which one is better suited for cabinetting or other
>cheap furniture making?
MDF is a good material. It's easy to work and it's stable afterwards.
It's particularly quick to work with if you have a biscuit jointer.
One thing to watch for is if you're going to paint it. Use a genuine
"MDF primer" for the first coat of paint, or at least not a
water-based paint. If you use a water-based paint, fibres will start
to raise on the surface and you get a rough finish.
MDF has two faults. It really doesn't like moisture, even worse than
particle board. Also it will sag if you use it for shelving.
--
Die Gotterspammerung - Junkmail of the Gods