Main > Woodworking
Advice on which type of wood to use?
leapinlew:
--- Quote from: Hockeyboy on January 06, 2007, 05:47:48 am ---Looking to build a cabinet from a template and don't want to use MDF - I want to use a furniture-grade wood, or at least something that doesn't scream POS.
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And here I thought my cabinets looked pretty nice. :(
Kaytrim:
--- Quote from: Bremil on January 11, 2007, 09:34:12 am ---How does MDF compare to others for woodworking comfort? A friend of mine complained that he couldn't stand the taste of MDF after he'd finish.
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The saw dust can kill you, it is not even a dust it is more like a powder. Make sure that you cut it outside and wear a high quality respirator. It also can dull and burn out your cutting tools. Otherwise it is nice to work with. There is a lot of information on the stuff here. Do a search on "MDF Dust" on the boards and see what I am talking about. Personally I like the end result of using MDF but I don't like cutting it.
ScottS:
All wood dust is dangerous over time! Do a search for 'Bill Pentz' if you want to know just how harmful dust can be... That said, certain woods cause more problems than others. MDF is, essentically, sawdust held together by formaldehyde glue. Formaldehyde, you may rember, is classified as a carcinogen. Best to avoid breathing MDF dust if at all possible...
Hockeyboy:
I'm not saying any cab made of MDF would actually be a POS, I'm just saying that given my current scheme and layout of my basement demands that I use some good quality wood material that is strong yet pleasing to the eye.
I truly appreciate all the comments and thoughts -- I'm thinking I will head to this specialty store and get some nice quality maple or birch veneer/plywood at about $60 a sheet and go with that. Shouldn't need more than 2 sheets anyway so the cost should be under $150 total.
ScottS:
A full-sized cabinet typically requires three sheets of material. The sides take up a sheet each, with another sheet used for the front, back, and top. Miscellaneous pieces for the control panel can be salvaged from the sheets used to make the sides. Of course if you're building a scaled-down cabinet, a la Knievel's Woody, then you can get by with less wood. Best to do a layout on some graph paper, in order to figure out how much stock you need and minimize trips to the lumber yard...