December 28, 201213 yr Never had use this stuff before and have heard what I call horror stories about it. Now I know. Using it to make the top for the router table was definitely an experience. Seems like every time I cut it or use my router for cutting dadoes for the T-track I have to sweep up and vacuum the garage/shop. Seems like I clean the shop up 6 or 8 times while making the top. Lucky me I had my dust mask on or I'll would be heading to see the doctor or worst heading to the hospital. I know when I finish the router table what MDF I have left is heading to the back yard fire pit.Wayne EWayne E
December 28, 201213 yr I wouldn't burn it Wayne. The stuff that makes the dust nasty to breathe is much much worse when it's burnt.Round Barn WoodCrafts, Plymouth WIroundbarnwoodcrafts@hotmail.com
December 28, 201213 yr Definitely do not burn it as the chemicals can be very dangerous if inhaled. Break up the left overs and put them in the trash can. Allen WorshamCorona, CAallenworsham@earthlink.net'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk' J. Vernon McGee
December 28, 201213 yr I'm not so sure the stuff will burn. I was at an auction last year for a defunct furniture compnay and there were two skids of new MDF sheets that measured about 36 X 42. The auctioneer started the auction at $5 and could never get a bidder. That should tell you something about MDF.Ron DudelstonSite AdministratorAbove and Beyond WoodWorks
December 28, 201213 yr Everything you said is true, but MDF does have some good uses: routing templates, shop jigs, substrate for veneers, router table tops, and on and on. That said, working with it isn't rewarding...I'll only route it when I can do so outside. My table saw has dust collection, but all the finest dust winds up in the filter of my DC, so a prolonged session means I have to clean it (the filter).
December 28, 201213 yr I agree with Fred. For dadoes I never use a router with MDF unless it's on my router table or table saw with dust collection. I have a separator on my DC system but like Fred most of the dust winds up in the filter and I always use a dust mask and have my shop air filter running when milling MDF. As far as the waste, I have burned it outside in a burn barrel. I keep most of the waste for jigs and sacrificial plates for my drill press and I used 3 sheets laminated together for my work bench top and it's solid as a rock. I also have a saw blade made for MDF and the cuts ares smooth as glass and I don't have to sand it. MDF remains stable and is very easy to mill but the dust is horrible. Fred W. Hargis, Jr said:Everything you said is true, but MDF does have some good uses: routing templates, shop jigs, substrate for veneers, router table tops, and on and on. That said, working with it isn't rewarding...I'll only route it when I can do so outside. My table saw has dust collection, but all the finest dust winds up in the filter of my DC, so a prolonged session means I have to clean it (the filter).
December 28, 201213 yr All I can say is ditto on the dust. Dust collection and dust mask are a must if you are going to cut it whether it be inside the shop of outside the shop. It does have some useful traits but you do have to take precautions with the dust. But that said, we need to be aware of the dust when cutting lots of things. I have a respirator I put on when doing a lot of cuts that make dust. Even with good dust collection you still give fine particles in the air and they will end up in your lungs. Take good care of your lungs, you are the safety director in your shop.John MoodySite AdministratorJohn Moody Woodworkshttp://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com
December 29, 201213 yr Author Alright guys, I won't burn this stuff. But it is going out of this garage/ shop and into big trash canWayne EWayne E
January 2, 201313 yr It's definitely of limited value as a material.  IKEA uses it in nearly everything. And we all love IKEA don't we.MDF is cheap and tends to be fairly stable dimensionally, which is why, I suspect, that lots of guys use it for jigs and fixtures and such and also why entities like IKEA loves it.The surface is the hardest part and the insides are progressively softer and less well glued together as one penetrates to the middle where it is positively crumbly.    It is hockey sticks on cutting edges whether steel or carbide because of the abundance of both glue and silica. The silica in it presents a danger to the respiratory system. http://www.bwint.org/pdfs/cancerinBWI.pdfWhen I use the stuff and have edges that I'd like not to crumble away I use several layers of penetrating epoxy on it. A good coating of some moisture resistant epoxy helps it to last a long time while not warping or changing shape.
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