Through work I use more MDF then the average person. I am a finish carpenter in new homes. I use way to much of the stuff. I use a good resperatetor when cutting lots of in inside. I am not talking about a dust mask, it is a charcoal filtered full blown resperator.
Carbide toothed blades last for a long time. I used the same blade in my Skill saw for almost 5 months. You will also need to use a finer cut blade to make a nice smooth cut. You can force the saw through it and it will leave a rough sawn look to the edge. If you let the blade cut and clear the dust it will come out smoother.
There is also a water proof type of MDF called MEDEX. It is the same saw dust but the glue they use to bond all of the particles together is a water proof type.
MDF will work a little better because of the weight factor. Weight is a good way to dampen vibration. MDF does not have an end grain, open areas between plys, plug to fill holes in the surface sheet, and is for the most part flater then ply. It by far smoother and paints better then ply. This is of course not a furniture grade of plywood.
It is best if you can do most of your cuts outside or with a vacum going to help get rid of the dust. You should see the floor after I install a walkin closet built out of MDF. There is a layer of dust you can loose tools in. The dust WILL get every where you don't want it.
Dru.  |