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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: king88mob on June 28, 2003, 08:24:52 pm

Title: Best saw for MDF?
Post by: king88mob 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.

Title: Re:Best saw for MDF?
Post by: Mike 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.

Title: Re:Best saw for MDF?
Post by: meta87 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! :)

Title: Re:Best saw for MDF?
Post by: AlanS17 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.

Title: Re:Best saw for MDF?
Post by: g-rock26 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.

Title: Re:Best saw for MDF?
Post by: PkingRoch 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.

Title: Re:Best saw for MDF?
Post by: slug54 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