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Cutting MDF for cabinet.

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DrewKaree:
If all you have is a jig saw, there's a slimmer than slim chance in hell that your sides will match up.  Circular saw is the way to go unless you have patience enough to go slow enough for the blade to do the work without bending.

If you have a circular saw, it will cut an inch and a half thickness.  Skip the clamps and do the following:

Get some finish nails.  Do not use ANY other type of nail.  FINISH NAILS ONLY.  Nail the two pieces together.  Cut.  Separate.  Bingo.  Identical pieces.  The finish nails will leave a small enough hole that it won't be an issue to fix.  Some putty (water putty or wood putty) will fill 'er up, and you'll be good to go.  Just don't try to escape filling holes and use only 2 nails ::)  4-6 nails will be good enough, but less than 4 is asking for trouble.  If you REALLY want to avoid filling holes, put the nails in the "waste" area of the MDF sheet....you'll still need to stick 2-3 in the "good" area, but that's the easiest way. 

Your jig saw will NOT work for this method though.

spriggy:

--- Quote from: dema on May 02, 2005, 03:26:48 pm ---
A really easy way to do it if you want the sides to be exact would be to cut out the first side of the cabinet and lay it on top of another piece of wood. Then use a router and a flush-cut bit and just trace it to the outline of the first cabinet. While the router method will spray the wood dust out like a vortex, which sucks, it will give an exact replication of the first.


--- End quote ---

You state that you are going to buy a Router.  Hence, follow 'dema's explanation.  Quick and easy way to replicate straight and curved cuts!

I find that before you trace around with the router, pencil trace the completed side onto the new source and rough cut a 1/4' or so outside the trace line with a jigsaw (& circular saw for the straight cuts if you want).  Escpecially if your tracing onto a large sheet.  Easier to manipulate.  Common-sense prevails that you screw the two pieces together with three countersinking wood screws to be sure of no movement.

Good luck.

Craig:
Be careful with the circular saw. I almost cut my leg off a while back  :o

spriggy:

--- Quote from: Craig on May 03, 2005, 12:19:55 am ---Be careful with the circular saw. I almost cut my leg off a while back
--- End quote ---

Craig:
I wasn't using the saw properly and it jacked back fast and just missed my leg.  ::)

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