Mdf?

[jmoriearty]

I know, it's almost sacrilegious to even post that abbreviation on this board! I am doing it anyway because I had some thoughts today. I was looking at a local craft mall and I know everyone here has seen these items. They are cut and routed crosses made from MDF, sanded out, and then painted or crackle painted. One booth was selling unfinished MDF crosses for people to do themselves. I couldn't help but think about how smooth it cut and how perfectly it seemed to have routed. SOOOOOOO.....

I was thinking about how many signs I have made for children's bedrooms over the last couple of years. They are completely painted and usually very large. I never use plywood because you can never cover up the edges properly. It always seemed a waste of wood to make these out of even pine when you are just painting over it.

So, how well would MDF work with the CW? Any issues with burning? It would be nice to be able to make some of these painted items for a more reasonable price. I was also thinking of mixing pigment in with my lacquer so that you could have a wood tone feel for some of the colors. It has worked well on wood in the past, might be worth a try on MDF for cheaper pieces.

Just one of those inner conflicts between my artistic side and my business side.

[lawrence]

I use it and LOVE carving it - just make sure to use good dust collection and prime with an oil based primer before painting. Oh yeah, and it's flat as can be and cheaper than chips as the English say....

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u313/ldr_klr/Carvewright/42 ECS Tribal/DSCF01661024x768.jpg
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u313/ldr_klr/Carvewright/42 ECS Tribal/DSCF01791024x768.jpg


http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u313/ldr_klr/Carvewright/signs/DSCF02101024x768.jpg
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u313/ldr_klr/Carvewright/Tail Flash 1/21024x768.jpg

[chief2007]

Just Love the tail flash! You show a vast variety of what can be carved with mdf.

[lawrence]

oh, and it cuts out just fine too... just rub drywall mud on the edges and then wipe off with a paper towel to seal the loose "pores"
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u313/ldr_klr/P10701031024x768.jpg

[badbert]

MDF is engineered wood. It is made from wood. But at the perfect consistency. Not too hard not too soft. You will be amazed at how smoothly your cut motor will run! And a little creative painting, you can grain it to look like wood! Biggest problem I have with MDF... The dust is talcum powder fine! Make sure your DC is working good!

[jmoriearty]

Beautiful work guys! I can deal with "cheaper than chips"!!!! LOL

[Ton80]

I use it and LOVE carving it - just make sure to use good dust collection and prime with an oil based primer before painting. Oh yeah, and it's flat as can be and cheaper than chips as the English say....

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u313/ldr_klr/Carvewright/42 ECS Tribal/DSCF01661024x768.jpg
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u313/ldr_klr/Carvewright/42 ECS Tribal/DSCF01791024x768.jpg


http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u313/ldr_klr/Carvewright/signs/DSCF02101024x768.jpg
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u313/ldr_klr/Carvewright/Tail Flash 1/21024x768.jpg

Lawrence,

The Navy piece that you did is beautiful. I love the finish you have on that one. Can you describe your process on that one?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[lawrence]

Sorry I'm just getting back to ya ton80. I'm assuming you're talking about the tail flash.

I carved the piece in MDF, then sprayed it with an oil based primer. After that cured I painted it grey with water-based house paint in an HVLP (I have an Earlex 5000 which I LOVE and it's paid for its $250 price many times over)

After painting, I used a little consumer grade vinyl cutter I own to cut out the letters/numbers from black self adhesive vinyl. I did the same for the top "flash" (which is a plain yellow strip covered by a thinner blue strip with the scorpion silhouette cut into it)
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u313/ldr_klr/Carvewright/Tail%20Flash%201/31024x768.jpg

The badge is a printout done on clear "slide on decal paper" (like the stuff used on plastic model kits you made as a kid) I got a pack off of amazon and it's about $2 a sheet for 5x8 and can be printed in inkjet printers
http://www.amazon.com/Testor-Corp-9201-Decal-Paper/dp/B000BLI6QS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360942145&sr=8-1&keywords=decal+paper

Hope this helps,
Lawrence

[eelamb]

Another source for the slide off decals is http://www.texascraft.com/hps/home.php