Will Home Depot Cut MDF?

[shawnzilla]

Okie, strange question... Will Home Depot (or Loews, etc...) cut MDF for you? If so, will they actually cut it into the needed pattern/dimensions for you?

My line of thinking is that I lack the space (rather, I lack the willingness of my spouse to give up the space) to do the major cutting for my cab, so could I give them the dimensions/plans for the sides of my cab and have them cut it? Does it cost a lot to have them do such a thing?

I ask this question, with the given that I would be purchasing the raw MDF from Home Depot.

[BobA]

In my experience they will make staight cuts only.  You can plan your cuts to get major pieces but they use a panel saw and cannot make cuts other then vertically or horizontally on a sheet of MDF.  You can get the major parts of of cocktail cab with these cuts but not an upright cab.

A smaller customer friendly lumber yard might work something out with you but the major chains will not.

BobA

[hyiu]

beware.... Home Depot.... most of them only do straight cuts.... and my experience is... their cut is not very accurate in length....

I have asked them to cut for me before... and they do measure it... but somehow... it turns out its a little short....
and I have to alter my sizing afterwards....

bad experience....

YMMV... good luck....

[Wienerdog]

The cuts they do are rough cuts.  You can't count on them getting any closer than 1/2 inch.

You won't find anywhere that will cut out an upright cabinet side.

[SNAAAKE]

beware.... Home Depot.... most of them only do straight cuts.... and my experience is... their cut is not very accurate in length....

I have asked them to cut for me before... and they do measure it... but somehow... it turns out its a little short....
and I have to alter my sizing afterwards....

bad experience....

YMMV... good luck....

same here..they cut like crap..NOT ACCURATE..because we are in the same city and might have went to the same home depot.. .

I suggest you cut the whole thing yourself..

Another funny thing..
My local home depot DONT cut particle board..the guy down there claims that particle board releases poison gas/fume or somethin..

WTF !  

Any input on this weirdness(or rather bull$hit) anyone ?

[CitznFish]

beware.... Home Depot.... most of them only do straight cuts.... and my experience is... their cut is not very accurate in length....

I have asked them to cut for me before... and they do measure it... but somehow... it turns out its a little short....
and I have to alter my sizing afterwards....

bad experience....

YMMV... good luck....

same here..they cut like crap..NOT ACCURATE..because we are in the same city and might have went to the same home depot.. .

I suggest you cut the whole thing yourself..

Another funny thing..
My local home depot DONT cut particle board..the guy down there claims that particle board releases poison gas/fume or somethin..

WTF !  

Any input on this weirdness(or rather bull$hit) anyone ?

it's absolutely true. OSHA will come down hard on a lumber yard that cuts particle Board /MDF without proper ventalation. The boards have formaldehyde in the wood. Very nasty to inhale. I worked at a local lumber yard in high school and people would go ape ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- when we told them we couldn't cut their particle board. (we didn't even carry MDF)

[u_rebelscum]

Another funny thing..
My local home depot DONT cut particle board..the guy down there claims that particle board releases poison gas/fume or somethin..

Any input on this weirdness(or rather bull$hit) anyone ?

It's absolutely true. OSHA will come down hard on a lumber yard that cuts particle Board /MDF without proper ventalation. The boards have formaldehyde in the wood. Very nasty to inhale. I worked at a local lumber yard in high school and people would go ape ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- when we told them we couldn't cut their particle board. (we didn't even carry MDF)

I heard MDF releases more formaldehyde per cut than particle board.  Is that true?

[MilitiaMan]

I heard MDF releases more formaldehyde per cut than particle board.  Is that true?

Can anyone tell me more about this? I have been sanding the hell out of MDF for about a week now and I am certain that I have been inhaling particles as sanding MDF is messy as hell and creates a fine "dust" over everything near your project.

I have been smart enough to do this outside in the driveway so as not to create a huge mess in the garage, but I was not intelligent enough to wear a mask over my mouth and nose.

Should I be worried? I realize anyone replying to this likely is not a doctor and if I get really concerned I will see my physician, but any input or experience you might be able to share would be appreciated.

-MM

[AX]

same here LOL.  no wonder I have had a sore throat and feel like crap.  maybe im dieing.

[shawnzilla]

I just found this tidbit about MDF safety on the web.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/homes/glossary/glossary_m.shtml
http://www.safety.ed.ac.uk/resources/occ_hygiene/hygiene_update14.html

[Distortion]

Yeah, I didn't learn about the formaldahyde until after I had finished my cabinet.  I did the whole thing in my garage, which most of the time I had the door open, but sawdust was EVERYWHERE!  I got a rash from it on my arm and a little chest congestion, but I also had a cold at the same time, so some of that was attributed to my cold.

[Wade]

Wow, I like the second link.  Makes me feel a little better about how much of that stuff I inhaled when making my cabinet.  I am definitely going to invest in a dust collector and mask for my next big wood project though.  If nothing else, it will keep me from having to clean up my workroom as much.

Wade

[MilitiaMan]

Looks like I'll ~probably~ live.

Thanks for the linx.

-MM

[SNAAAKE]

okay so this is true  !  

I actually wear a mask all the time for this kind of work anyways..even solding..never know..

Anyway...atleast now I know WHY home depot didnt wanna cut it..whatever

[shawnzilla]

I found a definitive answer about the safety of cutting MDF at this link

https://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=186491#a

[u_rebelscum]

I just found this tidbit about MDF safety on the web.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/homes/glossary/glossary_m.shtml
http://www.safety.ed.ac.uk/resources/occ_hygiene/hygiene_update14.html

Thanks for the info, shawnzilla for this and your later link.  Good stuff to know.