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Author Topic: Best saw for MDF?  (Read 4323 times)

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king88mob

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Best saw for MDF?
« on: June 28, 2003, 08:24:52 pm »
As i've mentionned, i'm building my first control panel, and since i don't have any powered saws, i'm going to rent one for a day from home depot. What kind is best to cut through 5/8" MDF, specifically for this kind if work? Table saw? Circular saw? Most of my pieces are simple rectangles etc.

Thanks.

Mike

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Re:Best saw for MDF?
« Reply #1 on: June 28, 2003, 08:47:14 pm »
If most of your cuts are rectangular buy the wood from home depot and have them cut it for you for FREE and save yourself the rental fee. I put in a brick patio and need a bunch of thin fiber board cut into 4 inch pieces. I have a table saw at home but they can do it on their panel saw a lot faster than I can. Then if you need to do some slight angles or something go to sears and buy thier $20 craftsman jigsaw it goes through mdf like it's nothing and then you have at least one power tool when your done.

meta87

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Re:Best saw for MDF?
« Reply #2 on: June 28, 2003, 09:14:02 pm »
Naw i doubt that will work. Home Depot ususually only makes about 2 cuts per piece and they aren't very accurate.

I'm not sure of the best option, but I used a circular saw. I'd also recommend getting some clamps and clamping down a 2x4 for a guide.

That will make it alot straighter.

Good Luck! :)

AlanS17

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Re:Best saw for MDF?
« Reply #3 on: June 29, 2003, 12:26:19 am »
When I cut my MDF I just used a jigsaw. Theootically a circular saw would be good for long, straight cuts, but my jigsaw wasn't even a problem for me. They're super cheap, too. Plus you can't make turns with a circular saw and with a jigsaw I was able to make right angle cuts without pulling the saw out of the wood. MDF just slices when a saw touches it. It is very smooth. So you can back up a jigsaw a few inches and shave out extra space to make turns without ever having to pull out and come in from another direction.


g-rock26

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Re:Best saw for MDF?
« Reply #4 on: June 29, 2003, 04:41:03 am »
Cutting through MDF is like cutting through warm butter with a normal circular saw...if all you are doing is straight cuts then rent one of those.  You can probably buy a cheap one from Home Depot for $35 if you plan on using it for more than just this.

PkingRoch

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Re:Best saw for MDF?
« Reply #5 on: June 29, 2003, 01:45:08 pm »
I used a 40-tooth carbide tipped 7.25" saw blade with a $29 craftsman circular saw for my entire cab.  Worked like a charm.

The Home Depot near me doesn't cut anything so check with them first before you depend on them for the cuts.

slug54

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Re:Best saw for MDF?
« Reply #6 on: June 29, 2003, 03:00:26 pm »
Use a circular saw with a clamped down straight edge.
If you already had a Jig saw you could do it with that but if your going to rent/borrow/buy something get a Circular saw.
                       Slug54