How hard is it to cut MDF with a normal handsaw?

[CanadianRyGuy]

Dont feel like spending money on more tools, but was thinking I could get away with a handsaw and some sand paper?

[HaRuMaN]

MDF is pretty soft, so you could do it...

I would at least invest in a circular saw.

[Firebat138]

time is money... 2 hours of cutting or $40-60 bucks.  :-) I'm lazy too.  :-)

[javeryh]

time is money... 2 hours of cutting or $40-60 bucks.  :-) I'm lazy too.  :-)

Agreed. 

Also, I hope you aren't planning to cut any straight lines with a hand saw.

[CheffoJeffo]

You know what, with a GOOD handsaw and technique, you can cut straight enough. Problem is that the GOOD crosscut saw that I own cost me more than either of my circular saws did  ... and I would not use it for general cutting.

I would totally either rent proper tools or pick them up from a pawn shop.

[Malenko]

its easier then loading it into a pick up truck; well for some people.

[javeryh]

You know what, with a GOOD handsaw and technique, you can cut straight enough. Problem is that the GOOD crosscut saw that I own cost me more than either of my circular saws did  ... and I would not use it for general cutting.

I would totally either rent proper tools or pick them up from a pawn shop.

Really?  Maybe through wood but MDF would just ruin the tool real fast I think.  I'd rent too - pawn shop is another excellent idea.

[sk8ersublime]

you can get a decent jigsaw for pretty cheap too

[ark_ader]

Be patient or you will be cutting at a gradual angle. 

Get something you can line up your saw with and keep you cutting straight.

[Kevin Mullins]

its easier then loading it into a pick up truck; well for some people.

 

But back on topic though...... you can most certainly pick up a cheap circular or jigsaw for about if not less than that sheet of MDF cost.
Can it be done with a handsaw..... sure.

[CheffoJeffo]

Really?  Maybe through wood but MDF would just ruin the tool real fast I think. 

Yep, which is why I wouldn't use it for cuts best made with another tool. 

[Firebat138]

I used a jigsaw on the one side and my circular on the other for the long cuts. The jigsaw tended to wave off a little as to be expected.  Shame you arent close enough, I have a saw you could have, just have to put a new blade in.

On another note, my next cab, the local Tech College has a CNC machine, and they are gonna let me bring my file in and cut the whole thing...  As long as I do it IN CLASS and make a presentation for the kids...  Sort of a trade.  :-)  If you have a college near by, it may be worth a shot...  Of course I took classes there and I do a presentation for the students twice a year..  HTH
Camper

[Blanka]

You can also rent tools. A circular saw with guidance ruler for a few bucks a day. 

[severdhed]

arcade building is not a cheap hobby.  you will end up spending hundreds of dollars on your cabinet, even doing it as cheaply as possible. so you have to decide if you want your giant expensive cabinet to look like you cut it with a hand saw, or if it is worth the extra money to buy a few tools to give you better results and save yourself a ton of work in the process.

you dont need to spend hundreds of dollars on name brand tools...harbor freight is your friend.

http://www.harborfreight.com/

if you are anything like me, you are not building things for a living.  if i were a carpenter, then i would spend money on high quality tools.  but i have found that buying cost effective tools from harbor freight works better for me.  i can get more of the tools i want, for less money.    personally, i couldn't imagine building a cabinet from scratch without at least the following power tools:

drill              http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=3670
circular saw   http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94245
jig saw         http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=46055
router          http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44914

TOTAL price for all 4, $101.96
i'm not saying those are necessarily the exact units you should buy.  i do however own that router and it works wonderfully.  some people here may tell you that these tools are junk and not worth the money.  but if you dont have any tools, and dont want to spend a bunch of money on tools you may not use that much, you can't go wrong with this stuff.  i personally have a few power tools that i purchased form harbor freight, and i am very happy with all of them

I own that trim router:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44914

corded drill:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=3273

orbital sander:(got mine on sale for $8)
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=40070

and for my birthday, my wife bought me a compound mitre saw:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91995

i love all of them, and the really make the job of building something alot easier

[SavannahLion]

Just thought I'd throw this out there, but Craigslist is a pretty good source as well. Local flea market kicks ass hands down for any power tools. There's a place near me (Denio's) and power tools are a staple there. There might be a place like that near you.

If you choose to buy from a source like Craigs, Flea Market or a pawn shop, I would advise caution on the older all metal body tools. Their bodies aren't usually properly grounded and with the older wiring, it could be frayed and there would be potential for electrical shock. Newer tools sport plastic bodies (or for the metal bodies) a plastic lining. Regardless of any power tool you buy from a secondary source, always inspect the power cord.

[Blanka]

OMG, new pieces for the price of renting a decent 1 for one day. That must be bad stuff.

[DaveMMR]

I think a circular saw was the cheapest thing I spent money on building my arcade.    It was like $40 on sale.  Decent, does the job - much quicker and cleaner than a handsaw.  

[Sir Headless VII]

I think a circular saw was the cheapest thing I spent money on building my arcade.    It was like $40 on sale.  Decent, does the job - much quicker and cleaner than a handsaw.  

You buy expensive screws...

[Nacimroc]

I'm a big fan of the good old hand saw! With a bit of practice its easy to get a perfect straight line.

Circular saws are fantastic until you reach the end of the board and laser sight or line is gone off the edge! Nothing to line it up against! People will then say, use a straight edge to run it along, but if your wasting that much time you'd have cut it twice over perfect with a handsaw! Any old cheap one is fine too as long as its straight!

Nobody on here mentions the hand plainer or chisels which make some jobs alot easier and quicker than power tools!

Now a table saw is a whole different story.... I'd love one of those!

[tightwad]

I think a circular saw was the cheapest thing I spent money on building my arcade.    It was like $40 on sale.  Decent, does the job - much quicker and cleaner than a handsaw.  

You buy expensive screws...

Cheap screws aren't as good....

[TPB]

Cheap screws aren't as good....

Cheap screws are under-rated.  They do just as good a job at releasing the load.

[Ed_McCarron]

Cheap screws are under-rated.  They do just as good a job at releasing the load.

We're still talking about wood, right?   




Even with taking the time to set up a sawboard, theres NO way you are cutting 8 linear foot of wood with a handsaw quicker than I can do it with a circular saw.

Get the circular saw, make yourself a sawboard (see woodworking sub-forum) and you'll be golden.

[Blanka]

He said "Wood"
huhuhuh!

[Breaker]

Hi all

I was lucky enough to have a friend with a woodworking shop who cut the main pieces of my
cab (I also used MDF). Any place that sells full sheets of MDF should be more that capable of
doing the larger cuts for you if you provide them with the measurements.

This will significantly reduce the effort for you (both in cutting and transporting) and since the cut
pieces will be square (assuming the store's saw is correctly calibrated - which it should be) you can
then use the resulting pieces as guides for routing nice straight lines. After I had the parts of my CAB
cut from the large sheets I never used another saw on my CAB as all additional modifications were done
with a router.

As others have suggested, it really depends on the level of quality you're going for, but trust me,
nice straight cuts and square corners will pay dividends when it comes to assembly and overall appearance.

Breaker.