End of DIY :) - HD won't cut MDF

[jgwinner]

Well, it's not the END of DIY of course, some of us own pickups.

For those who's pickup is in the shop, I used to rely on Home Depot's cutting service to get the panels into manageable sizes before bringing home to true up on the Table saw.

I went to Home Depot to get my center channel MDF panels made, and Home Depot apparently now has an (enforced) policy that they won't cut MDF. They feel the health risks are too high. I haven't checked Lowe's (also close).

IS there a big health risk with cutting MDF?

I'd always heard 'use MDF' but I haven't seen any objective sound comparisons.

If there are health risks, would 7/8" flooring plywood be an alternative? (same glue I think, but less of it).

What about 'Apply ply' or Baltic Birch / Oak? They are supposed to have less voids.

I guess the other alternative would be to bring some 2x4's to the parking lot, buy a cordless 4" saw, and rough cut it up there.

[454Casull]

The dust is dangerous when inhaled.

[Zaph]

My Home Depot just cut some for me yesterday. I bought 2 sheets cut into convenient 2' x 4' pieces. I can fit those in the back of my SUV easy enough. Maybe I should head back and get some more before they change their minds. On the other hand, HD MDF is only of average quality, so I was looking for another source anyway. (here in the midwest US)

[jackinnj]

Originally posted by jgwinner
I went to Home Depot to get my center channel MDF panels made, and Home Depot apparently now has an (enforced) policy that they won't cut MDF. They feel the health risks are too high. I haven't checked Lowe's (also close).


I guess the other alternative would be to bring some 2x4's to the parking lot, buy a cordless 4" saw, and rough cut it up there.

I would fly out to California to see you do it.

btw -- HD sells a plastic "panel carrier" for sheetrock and you can use it to tote 4*8 sheets of ply, particle board or gypsum wallboard with it -- it's only a couple bucks. i think that they do have some panels precut to standard sizes like 24 * 48 inches.

[Scottmoose]

MDF dust is carcinogenic. Nominally. Being in the old world(e?) of Britain, we don't have an HD, but our equivalent, B&Q cuts it, no problem. If your HDs are anything like our B&Qs, then the big cutters have vacum attachments anyway (I believe that's a legal requirement for stores of that sort in the UK, I've no idea about the US) to almost negate the risk, and the operator[s] have to wear filter masks which remove the last real risk.

Sounds daft to me -I seriously doubt that it's down to any possible health risks at all; with proper safety precautions, which should always be used anyway being plain common sense, the risk is removed. I suspect the real reason is a terror of being sued (without cause, but I bet the legal eagles love it as it would be tricky to prove otherwise) thanks to this stupid compensation culture we now live in.

Scott

[Audiophilenoob]

Originally posted by 454Casull
The dust is dangerous when inhaled.

I probably should be dying soon then

[jackinnj]

Originally posted by Scottmoose
MDF dust is carcinogenic. Nominally. Being in the old world(e?) of Britain, we don't have an HD, but our equivalent, B&Q cuts it, no problem. If your HDs are anything like our B&Qs, then the big cutters have vacum attachments anyway (I believe that's a legal requirement for stores of that sort in the UK, I've no idea about the US) to almost negate the risk, and the operator[s] have to wear filter masks which remove the last real risk.

Sounds daft to me -I seriously doubt that it's down to any possible health risks at all; with proper safety precautions, which should always be used anyway being plain common sense, the risk is removed. I suspect the real reason is a terror of being sued (without cause, but I bet the legal eagles love it as it would be tricky to prove otherwise) thanks to this stupid compensation culture we now live in.

Scott

Doesn't help that most of these composite wood products use formaldehyde containing resins -- the formaldehyde can be demonstrated to cause nasal cancer in rats --

if you have a question about a product, there's likely to be an "MSDS" on it -- Manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet.

by the way, Kodak took formaldehyde out of C-41 color film processing because of exaggerated health concerns. The molecule which replaced the formaldehyde was hundreds of times more expensive.

[Scottmoose]

I bet they loved ramping the prices up to 'cover' the cost too...

[morbo]

All the home depots near me still cut it. If yours don't for some reason (its not that hard to wear a mask when cutting it), substitute the 2x4' 12 ply 'russian birch' they have, it is very good, if a little pricey.

[Geek]

Oh, this is just the joke!!!!

HD won't cut MDF because it's a health risk, yet they sell CCA lumber for children's playgrounds