My contractor along with another woodworking friend has suggested that I we use MDF for all the baseboards and trim in our home, both agreed that it would not be a good ideal to use in the wet areas. Both have said that using a router on it is a dream, comes out really nice. Then I read the other post regarding MDF for the mantle and now I am wondering what gives. lol

I am also wondering how hard is to learn to use a router. I got all my sawn balusters done and my holes drilled. In the process of priming and painting them, but now we are talking trim and what that is going to cost and I am wondering if I can do this myself, with a router and router table.

MDF is medium density fiberboard. Essentially it is glue and sawdust compressed under great pressure to make a sheet like plywood. It cannot handle moisture. It swells wildly. It is very smooth and flat and makes good molding, easy to paint. Many houses are now built using it for all manner of painted trim. Another downside is that it is pretty heavy, a 3/4" thick 4'x8' running upwards of 115#'s!

As for using the router, yes, it is an ideal tool for MDF. But a couple of things. You will mkae lots of dust, dust that is harmful to breath. Respiratory protection is a must. If you have no experience with a router, this is not a bad place to start. May I suggest a good router book to begin?

I used to teach woodworking, in a community college system, in my own shop, and around the country at woodworking shows. So I have a bias, for what it's worth. But I still think a book on routing called Router Joinery Workshop is the best one out there. But I am a little prejudiced. I know the author rather well.

For your purposes, look in the book at making molding. Good info there for what you are planning. Oh, and look at it BEFORE you buy a router.

Any questions can be posted here. I check regularly.

When you do cut and rout MDF, sand the cut edges and seal with shellac before you paint. Looks better.

As Carol said mdf work good for painted trim, if you need trim in damp places orwhere it will get wet, like the kitchen from mopping, mdo might work better. Mdo uses moisture resistant glue to help prevent the swelling.
JohnP

Actually, MDF is terrible on routing tools. It is made from scrap wood and pallets ground to fine dust as Carol described. The pallets are used nails and all, and there is a pretty high metal content in MDF. Dulls tools quickly. Add to that the dust and mess from routing along with the dificulty painting it, and I think poplar is a far better choice for trim work.

Poplar will be far more durable, water resistant and paintable than MDF, easier to work with, and nicer to clean up after. Look around and you'll find that poplar is not too far away in price either.

Ralph

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www.consultingwoodworker.com

"The pallets are used nails and all"

Gees, Ralph, I didn't know that. I've seen video on how its made, but didn't realize they were grinding up used wood.

Ya learn something everyday!

As for poplar, it would certainly be my choice for trim as well, but the question was about MDF, so................

MDF is not made out of pallets. Well, in the plant my husband works at that makes MDF. They use the branches, and scraps that can't be used for veneers. All bark is removed before the process even begins, the chips are then dried in huge heated air tunnels. Pieces that are too large, too wet, or are not wood, don't make it to the top and are dropped out of the bottom. They have strict quality control, and onsite labs. All boards are metal tested, and batches are lab tested to assure top quality in every board. We have used MDF in our own home. My husband has built cabinets, woodwork, and even a bar that I faux painted the top to ressemble black marble, with multiple coats of poly. People can't believe it's MDF, their first reaction is wow, what a beautiful bar. When I tell them it's MDF and paint, they flip! Looking closely and saying it is not MDF, how did you do that? I love the reaction every time it happens! lol
You CAN router MDF. Practice with a small piece of MDF, just like you would with any board. As with any wooworking wear a mask, and glasses. MDF is not made of big pieces of scrap wook, it is reduced to wood "dust", then pressed. It routers beautifully.