Mdf

[Clemens]

Occassionally I'll use a waste block to utilize the full depth of a piece of wood. I made up a bunch of blocks a few years ago and the other day found they were all gone. Thought I'd try Medium Density Fiberboard since I had some on hand. DON'T! I should have known better. It worked well for awhile, then when hollowing the bowl the MDF sheared apart (like layers of paper) and threw the bowl across the shop! That's the sole message of this post: DO NOT USE MDF FOR WASTE BLOCKS!
Dale:

 

[john lucas]

I will second that. Do not use MDF for waste blocks. It's a disaster waiting to happen. I use poplar as much as I can.

 

[William Young]

I third that.
I used MDF on a set of cole jaws some years ago as per a tutorial I followed. It caused a broken arm requiring a steel pate and six screws .
MDF has its place for some jigs anf stationery things but DO NOT use it on a lathe or anything that spins.

BTW. I have not been here for quite a while but have been a member here for many years . Busy with my own Woodworking Friends site as well as visiting a few other "regulars"

I came here looking for the segmeted turners address . I believe it is a part of this site ?

 

[KurtB]

Bill,
Look here: http://www.segmentedwoodturners.org/ for the segmented turners.

 

[William Young]

Bill,
Look here: http://www.segmentedwoodturners.org/ for the segmented turners.

Thanks Kurt.
I also got a PM from a member with the address to it and I have already joined. I was not sure if it required a searate registration from this one and it did. I have also paid for full membership there and awaiting approval to have full access. .

 

[GA Darling]

Yea, mdf isn't really the best thing to use as a waste block. MDF has its place making jigs for shop use but the lathe is not reccomended. For dummies like me this should be placed in big red letters someplace visible.

 

[LHauch]

Actually, I use MDF for the bases of my home made Vacuum chucks. I get away with it since the vacuum is pulling the piece up against the MDF (which is mounted on a faceplate) and turn slow (both speed & feed.)

Its also good for making a power honing wheel, again running slowly.

It does have some use, although I totally agree with not using it for waste blocks.

Cheers,

 

[Don Geiger]

MDF Vacuum and jamb chucks

I too have made vacuum and jamb chucks out of MDF. It helps to harden the threads with some thin CA and then run the tap through again.

If you make vacuum chucks from MDF you must sel it well. It is very permeable to air.

Don Geiger

 

[James (Tony) Mullins]

Occassionally I'll use a waste block to utilize the full depth of a piece of wood. I made up a bunch of blocks a few years ago and the other day found they were all gone. Thought I'd try Medium Density Fiberboard since I had some on hand. DON'T! I should have known better. It worked well for awhile, then when hollowing the bowl the MDF sheared apart (like layers of paper) and threw the bowl across the shop! That's the sole message of this post: DO NOT USE MDF FOR WASTE BLOCKS!
Dale:

You didn't happen to yell "Pull." before it shot across the shop did you? All kidding aside. I used MDF once. Only once.

 

[Mr. Don]

I would not have MDF, particle board in my shop...they are disasters waiting to happen!!!!

 

[William Young]

I would not have MDF, particle board in my shop...they are disasters waiting to happen!!!!

I recently got a couple DVD's from Malcolm Tibbetts on segmentation . Excellent videos. (4 hours of viewing) on my new blue ray player on the wide screen TV.
He uses a lot of MDF for jigs and such so it does have its place in a shop if used with discretion . I sure wouldn't use it for anything that spins fast on the lathe anymore though.

 

[Dick Sowa]

I use MDF disks a lot when I flatten segmented rings. A few hot melt glue spots and they stay on fine for flattening. Then, when removing them, sometimes a bit of MDF comes with it. But like others have said, for anything else, forget it.

 

[jongibbs]

MDF or mdf?

I think it's fair to say that, as in life, there's mdf & mdf

There are different grades and they don't all have the same properties.

Take a look at this spec for MDF...
http://www.flakeboard.com/specs/ANSI%20A208.2-2002%20MDF.pdf

The internal bond strength range, which I think is the main "gripe" here, is over 3:1 for common MDF and if you consider thinner panels it can go higher.

I use thicker MDF for jigs and try to get the densest available, on the basis that I think it'll be strongest. A quick check for hardness with a finger nail on the sides is a quick indicator too.

I hope this helps
Jon