Alternative to M.D.F.

This sounds like a great idea, Lee.

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Hi Dick;

I’m curious to test this idea out. If we can get enough LJ’s to participate, I bet we can a lot of other materials and equipment we want also!

Should prove interesting!

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Sounds promising to me. But don’t forget about Lowe’s as well.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

Hi Scott;

I was thinking about them also, I just assumed H.D. was a larger operation. Let’s get them both!

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

that would make life alot easier.thanks lee.

-- Roper - master of sawdust-

Hi Lee,

You can count on me, but not to sound ignorant, what is the alternative you have in mind?

Just finished making three kitchen cabinets for our kitchen and have at least two more to make. I will start a new blog with pics, as soon as I can make time during this kitchen makeover. This is the one of the only emails I have taken time to read over the last few weeks.

Have a great day,

-- Bob Lance, DE

sounds a great idea to me. Thanks for take the initiative. MDF is nice, is very stable and the color is even, BUT is VERY VERY heavy and not so good with humidity.

I’d like Home Depot and Lowe’s to actually carry more MDF. The only thing I can usually find is the 3/4” MDF if they even have that. I’m also curious as to what alternatives to MDF is there?

And if it involves Bamboo, I’m out. Bamboo is almost as good as using corn stalks for wood in my opinion. the chemicals used in product of bamboo floors is more toxic in some cases than carpet PVCs that leak out. Fortunately some new companies are using a better alternative glues.

I’m in.

—Lakey

-- "No Board Left Behind"

I”m with lance… What is the alternative?

I’m in, whatever the case, though. MDF is what is making some homes unlivable… I refuse to use it in my shop.

~DB

-- Happy Ripping!!!

Hi Lee

Sounds like a great idea. I just started working at Lowe’s. Perhapes a man on the inside would help there. What is your recommendation as to where a guy could get samples and info on the product. Do you have any contacts with the company?

God Blestom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

HD is bigger, but Lowe’s has a somewhat different coverage area and clientele. Both would be good places to get the new MDF from. While higher cost is a negative, the benefits might outweigh that. And, if there is a big demand for it, price may eventually go down with higher volume production and increased competition.

Let’s see what we can do.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

What are the Alternatives?
(to make an informed decision, one must know this).

What do you have against MDF? There is a Lighter Weight MDF that makes it easier to carry.

MDF is very stable and perfect for making veneered pieces.

That said, I still don’t like MDF… I don’t use it very much at all… BUT…

-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=1389"

I’d also like to hear more about the problems with MDF, and its alternatives. I’m aware of difficulties with some building materials (some types of carpeting, for one) off-gassing chemicals like formaldehyde, given the glues & other compounds apt to be present in MDF, it’s not surprising the material would have potential issues.

I also wasn’t aware of bamboo being problematic. Can anyone elaborate on this, also?

Dan

I think this is the alternative mentioned.

Material Choices FX_Platform

-- Leon -- Houston, TX - " I create all my own designs and it looks like it "

The only MDF I can find here in my part of Maine is 3/4”. No Baltic Birch – I called one lumber company and they had no idea what I was talking about, no furniture grade plywood. Basically I can get fir plywood, 3/4” MDF, birch plywood (more voids than solid areas), oak plywood once in a while (afraid it will be as the birch), acuara (sp?) plywood, luan, pine, oak, maple & poplar dimensional lumber. I won a bid on ebay for two 24” lengths of 6” x 1/2” walnut and am very happy with it – real nice grain – especially for $ .99 plus $10.99 shipping.

Nearest hardwood dealer – also large selection of BB – is 150+ miles round trip and they don’t deliver on orders less than 100 bf. So, I build a lot of things out of pine!!!

The MDF alternative you mention might get to somewhere up here in the North Woods by the year 2020 and I’ll probably be long gone before then!

Jim

Hi All;

I’m working on tracking down the proper connection at Home Depot first, then Lowes. Seems a lot of us would like to be able to use an alternative to M.D.F.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Alright Lee, we still don’t know what alternative to MDF you are talking about. What do you mean??

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

- delete -

-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=1389"

hi

Hi Lee,

I have used it when forced; but weight, plus extremely rough wearing drawbacks on bits and blades, makes me seek other routes, like 3/4 AC plywood. [ not plugged and touched] , although most at the big box stores do not know that there is a difference.
Cabinet grade, AA is almost non- existent, and this is true in lumber yards also.

To have a suitable alternative, it seems as if certain criteria must be met, centering on weight, cutting properties, smoothness, and being adaptable to screw holding power, and these are are just a sampling of what we should be looking for in a substitute.

At any rate count me in.

Norm.

[ Where the heart is, there will your treasure be also. ]

Hi Thomas;

The post on the alternative.

http://lumberjocks.com/reviews/309

It’s great stuff for many applications.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Hi Joe;

I’ve visited your site, and enjoyed it many times.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Hi Norm;

I agree it’s unfortunate that many woodworkers don’t have ready access to the finest quality sheet goods and sometimes even lumber, or if they do it’s at outrageous prices.

The product mentioned above has many of the properties of M.D.F. with some advantages.

I find it to be very useful.

Thank you;

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

This looks like good stuff Lee. The ply construction should hold screws real well.

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

Hi Dadoo;

It’s very handy for many applications.

Bob who?

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Lee,
I found the post on the alternative this morning. Looks like a good solution to several problems.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

It looks like a good product and could surely use a wider distribution.

-- If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. No use being a darn fool about it.

Hi Russel;

I’m sure it soon will be.

I’m still trying to hook up with someone from Home Depot. I would be nice if they started to carry it without messing with the quality.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com