What is MDF
MDF stands for medium-density fiberboard. This is a manufactured or engineered wood product, which means that although it is not solid lumber cut straight from a tree, the base of it is wood. Medium-density fiberboard is made by taking hardwood and softwood residuals and scraps that are no longer needed and breaking them down into wood fiber or wood pulp. Special machines are used to pulverize the wood until you have what essentially amounts to specialized sawdust. That so-called sawdust is then mixed with a resin binder and wax, it is put into molds, and then using hydraulic power and heat, is pressed into various sizes and shapes.
Advantages of MDF
It is relatively dense and strong
One advantage that you get with MDF is that it has decent strength. Although MDF is not the best choice in terms of strength or weight capacity, it can handle more punishment and weight than particle board.
It is smooth and flat
Another advantage that you get with MDF is that it looks nice. Moreover, it can be used for surface applications that will be visible after construction. Due to its smoothness and flatness, it is also easy to sand and paint. In fact, those are just two of the ways to make MDF look good. Being so easy to finish makes MDF ideal for many surface applications.
It is easy to saw and manipulate
Because MDF is made out of wood fibers, it is very easy to saw and to work with. You can easily use a circular saw on MDF without causing tear-out, huge splinters, and even cracking the board. In terms of being able to saw through it without causing damage, it's much better than plywood. The ease at which MDF can be sawed and manipulated makes it a great building material.
It is fairly eco-friendly
The next advantage that you get, or that the world gets, by using MDF is that it is relatively eco-friendly. The reason for this is because medium-density fiberboard is made out of old wood, out of scraps and reclaimed wood, not out of fresh lumber.
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How to Bend MDF by Kerf Cutting
Prepare for the job
You are going to need to prepare for the job first, which means getting your MDF, setting up your table saw with a very large support table, and setting the depth of the blade to around 19/32 inches.
The cuts that you will make should go around three-quarters of the way through the MDF, but not penetrate all the way through. You're also going to want to have some safety goggles to keep your eyes safe.
Mark the curve and set up the MDF
You are now going to mark the curve that you will make. For instance, if you have a piece of MDF that is 8' long and ¾” thick, and you want to make a 30 degree curve right in the middle, you're going to mark this section off.
You're going to mark off, for instance, a 3' wide curve in the middle of the MDF. You're now going to line up your MDF with the markings on it with your table saw and prepare to make the cuts. Once again, remember to set the blade depth to the proper level.
Make the cuts
You are now going to use your table saw to cut into the MDF in ¾” intervals, or if you want this curve to be smoother, at 1/2” intervals. Make sure that you cut on what is going to be the inside of the curve, and make sure that you cut from the left boundary to the right boundary of that curve.
Bend the MDF
You are now going to lay down the MDF on a very large and flat surface, with those cuts facing up. You have to put a stop at one end of the MDF so that it cannot move or slide around.
You will then lift up the other side of the MDF and put something like a block or a board underneath it.
You now want to raise up the board so that those curve cuts begin to close in on themselves. Once you're about halfway to your desired angle, then want to repeat this process on the other side.
Fill the kerf cuts with glue
Once you have the bend in place, you actually want to spread the MDF out again. You are now going to use white glue, carpenters glue, or even a strong polyurethane adhesive to fill up all of the cuts.
Just make sure that you don't use too much glue, or else it might expand and actually straighten out as it dries.
Once you have the glue in place, reform that bend to the desired angle, and then clamp everything in place to make sure that the glue dries with the bend in place. Once the glue has dried, the job should be done.
Mistakes to Avoid
The smoother you want the curve to be, but closer together those cuts should be.
If you are doing this for the first time, you definitely want to practice on a spare piece of MDF to make sure you can get it right.
If it's easier for you, instead of clamping the board down and having the bend facing upwards, you can always support the board from both ends and create the curve by bending the MDF down.
Before you unclamp anything, always make sure that all of the glue has dried completely.
7 Common Uses of MDF Boards
Furniture making
One of the most common uses of medium-density fiberboard is in the making of lower-end furniture. Yes, we do have to stress the fact that MDF furniture is fairly low-end, as MDF just is not the most durable or most moisture-resistant material out there. When compared to solid wood, MDF furniture is decidedly weak. MDF is a fair bit easier to work with than solid wood. Moreover, MDF also costs a heck of a lot less to produce than solid wood does to chop down and to mill. Simply put, it is far less expensive to make any sort of furniture out of MDF than it is to make it out of solid wood.
Roofing
MDF that has been treated to be water-resistant may also be used for roofing purposes. Medium-density fiberboard can be used as a backing for shingles, particularly on roofs that have low slopes. It's not the most common roofing material due to its limited durability, but it is definitely an option that some people go with, particularly due to the cost-effective nature of MDF.
Soundproofing
Medium-density fiberboard does have a fairly good ability to stop sound waves from traveling, and this material does not vibrate much even with a lot of sound. Therefore, music studios often use MDF in the walls for soundproofing so that the sound does not travel through the walls. On that same note, many speaker casings also use MDF in their builds, as it does not vibrate. Medium-density fiberboard may also be used in the walls and floors of apartment buildings and offices because it helps to dampen the noise, so tenants do not hear each other through the walls.
Fireproofing
Although normal MDF is not particularly fire retardant, there is a special type of fire retardant MDF out there designed to prevent it from combusting. This type of fiberboard contains special chemicals that prevent fire from taking hold. with that being said, fire retardant MDF is not 100% fireproof, but it is better than normal MDF. The bottom line is that fire retardant MDF can make the difference between a house or a building going up in flames and the fire department being able to get there in time to put it out.
Vapor barriers and insulation
MDF is also used in the making of vapor barriers in homes and buildings for the purpose of keeping moisture outside. Now, medium-density fiberboard itself is not water-resistant in any way shape, or form, but it can be specially treated to achieve this purpose. MDF has the ability to be wet for long periods of time and then drying out without shrinking, rotting, or cracking. For this reason, MDF is sometimes used in the walls of houses and buildings in order to provide better heat insulation.
Cabinetry
The bottom line is that kitchen cabinets are most often made out of MDF, or at least incorporate MDF into the build. For smaller cabinets that don't need to bear a lot of weight, the shelves may be made out of MDF, although if they're very large cabinets, the shelves may be made out of solid wood. When it comes to kitchen cabinets, the most common component to be made out of MDF is the door. After all, glasses and plates are not all that heavy. Whatever the case may be, if you have cabinets in your kitchen, chances are pretty big that they were made out of MDF.
Flooring
The other somewhat common use of MDF is in flooring. Now, as you may know, MDF doesn't have the best weight-bearing capabilities, nor is it particularly moisture resistant. However, in some cases, MDF may be used to manufacture tiles that can be used for floors that will not see all that much traffic and won't get wet. Wood effect laminates are often made out of MDF due to the material's cost-effective nature.
The first thing to consider if you are going to plane MDF, is your safety. MDF contains a large amount of resin. Cutting, sanding, or planing MDF can release a large quantity of formaldehyde into the air. You'll want to wear a good quality respiratory mask and safety goggles.
You should also consider wearing protective clothing such as long sleeves and gloves to limit skin exposure to MDF dust. It is also a good idea to use a dust collector if possible.
If you are using a manual hand planer or a power hand planer, make sure your material is securely clamped and your blade angle shallow enough not to damage the surface. For manual planing, run it over your joined area swiftly at a slight angle and take it gradually so as not to dig into the material too much.
Because of MDF's flexibility, make sure it is supported well if you are running it through a thickness planer - especially if you have any joined areas. This can avoid having your material break at the joined seams.
How to Waterproof MDF
The only real way to waterproof MDF is to first prime it and then apply a waterproof or water-resistant paint, sealant, varnish, or lacquer.
First off, you need to go purchase all of the materials that you will need in order to complete this task. Here you will need a paintbrush as well as a paint roller and a roller tray. You will also need a latex primer that is designed to work with medium-density fiberboard, as well as your choice of water-resistant paint, stain, lacquer, or varnish. If at all possible, go for paint that is labeled as being 100% waterproof, not just water-resistant. Once again, water-resistance and being waterproof are not the same thing.
Before you start applying anything to the fiberboard, you do first just want to clean it off. Take a damp rag, but not too damp, and just wipe it down to remove any dust. Wait a few minutes for it to dry and then use a brush or even a vacuum to suck up any remaining debris. You do not want any dirt or debris under the primer once you go to apply it.
With the medium-density fiberboard ready to go, you now want to pour a good bit of the primer into your paint roller tray and then use your paint roller to apply an even layer to one side of the MDF. Depending on the exact primer being used, it's going to take a while to dry. Once it is dry, you can then flip it over and do the other side. Once the entirety of the MDF has been covered in primer, you just then need to wait for it to dry and then move on to the following step. Unless you plan on wasting money by using two sets of painting utensils, you do now also want to wash off your brush and paint roller.
Just like you used your brush and paint roller to apply the primer to the MDF, you now just want to repeat this process with your waterproof paint of choice. Of course, this could also be a varnish, stain, or lacquer. Apply the waterproof paint to one side, let it dry, then flip the MDF over and apply the paint to the other side, and then finish it off by using your brush to apply the waterproof paint to all four of the edges. You can now let it totally dry.
How to Fill Nail Holes in MDF Trim
Sand the holes
After you have inserted the nails, there may be some mushrooming in the wood surrounding the nail holes. Therefore, take some fine sandpaper and sand down the nail holes until they are completely flush with the rest of the MDF trim.
Clean the holes
Before you start filling those holes, you do want to make sure that they are perfectly clean. Therefore, you will want to use some pressurized air or a shop vacuum in order to suck or blow all of the sawdust out of the trim holes. You do not want there to be any sawdust or other debris present in the holes once you go to fill them.
Apply the wood putty
Once you have chosen your wood putty, wood filler, or spackle of choice, you can then get to filling those holes. With your tool of choice, such as a small scraper or woodworking tool, you can apply a good amount of the spackle putty or filler to the nail holes. Make sure to completely fill the nail holes and then scrape away any excess. You will now need to let it dry for up to a full day, depending on the exact product that you used.
Sand the holes and repeat
You now want to sand the holes down so that everything is completely flush with the MDF trim. Do keep in mind that spackle or wood putty may shrink a little bit, so you will most likely need to repeat this process. In other words, you will need to apply two layers of putty or spackle in order to complete this process. Once everything has dried, you can then sand it down one final time, and if needed, you can then even paint it.
FAQ
Q: Is MDF better than wood?
Q: What are MDF used for?
Q: What is MDF material?
Q: Can MDF get wet?
Q: Is MDF a cheap wood?
Q: Should I avoid MDF furniture?
Q: Why do people use MDF instead of wood?
Q: Can you screw into MDF?
Q: What are the 3 different kinds of MDF?
Q: Why does MDF smell?
Q: Can MDF be painted?
Q: Is MDF better than plywood?
Q: Should I use plywood or MDF?
Q: Is it OK to use MDF in a bathroom?
Q: What is Ikea furniture made of?
Q: What is better than MDF?
Q: Can MDF hold a TV?
Q: Is MDF poor quality?
Q: Is MDF poisonous to dogs?
Q: Is MDF safe for humans?
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