MDF health risks - Advice

BlizzardUK · 05-11-2009, 02:11

A friend kindly built me a big AV cabinet made of birch plywood (which I guess is MDF) to house all my equipment in for my one room studio flat. I didn't know before but I found out today that MDF gives out toxins if not sealed, even when not being cut, especially in heat.

I am now obviously concerned, especially as he is making more cabinets for me out of the same wood. I have chest problems as it is, so I wouldn't want to make them worse.

So, I don't want to over react, but at the same time given I live and sleep in the same room as the cabinet I feel I should at least do what I can to minimise the possible toxins or irritants.

So what do you suggest ? Should I paint it ? If so what would seal it safe ? How unsafe is MDF after cut ?

Thanks for any advice.

seacam · 05-11-2009, 02:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlizzardUK

A friend kindly built me a big AV cabinet made of birch plywood (which I guess is MDF) to house all my equipment in for my one room studio flat. I didn't know before but I found out today that MDF gives out toxins if not sealed, even when not being cut, especially in heat.

I am now obviously concerned, especially as he is making more cabinets for me out of the same wood. I have chest problems as it is, so I wouldn't want to make them worse.

So, I don't want to over react, but at the same time given I live and sleep in the same room as the cabinet I feel I should at least do what I can to minimise the possible toxins or irritants.

So what do you suggest ? Should I paint it ? If so what would seal it safe ? How unsafe is MDF after cut ?

Thanks for any advice.

Hi Blizzard,

Wrote about this subject many-many moons ago.

Anyways birch plywood is not MDF.

MDF is carcinogenic due to the chemicals/dust involved in its construction but you need to be exposed to it regularly.

You should wear a mask when cutting it.

Yes you should prime with MDF primer before painting, this is because ordinary primer will react with the glue chemicals used in the making of MDF and does give off gas.

Once primed, 2 coats, MDF is perfectly safe, you can eat off of it for life, in fact it safe in its bare state, with ventilation.

ladydragon · 05-11-2009, 02:29

Plywood isn't MDF...

The former is layered sheets and the later is fibres stuck together in my rather less than technical terminology...

I've got an MDF fitted wardrobe in my bedroom I've not gotten around to finishing with paint and we're all still alive to tell the tale... And now ashamed when I recall how long I've been dithering about it...

Confirm which it is as you might need to apply different products depending on what you want as a final finish...

BlizzardUK · 05-11-2009, 02:57

Firstly, thanks for the answers thus far, interesting.

Maybe I am confused. I thought some types of plywood are MDF ? The exact name of it on the receipt from the timbers is "birch ply 18mm" at £69 a sheet. Could it be veneer ? I will ask my mate, the reason I haven't asked him already is partly because I only just found out its risks (at 1am tonight) and I also don't want to be seen as a paranoid fool, haha.

ladydragon · 05-11-2009, 03:15

Sounds like regular ply to me if that's what your receipt says...

MDF looks like compressed weetabix and is very smooth on the surface... If I pull my nails over ply I can feel the grain in it...

Ply is thin layered sheets or arguably, multiple veneers... Unless by veneer you mean a veneer finish where a base sheet has an oak wood effect (for example) top layer...

Look at ply end on and you can see layers... Look at MDF end on and there's no layers...

Hope that makes sense

PS... I'm no wood expert so there's probably loads I don't know - but I have used both regular ply and regular MDF around the house and decorative stuff...

woodbush · 05-11-2009, 03:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlizzardUK

Firstly, thanks for the answers thus far, interesting.

Maybe I am confused. I thought some types of plywood are MDF ? The exact name of it on the receipt from the timbers is "birch ply 18mm" at £69 a sheet. Could it be veneer ? I will ask my mate, the reason I haven't asked him already is partly because I only just found out its risks (at 1am tonight) and I also don't want to be seen as a paranoid fool, haha.

At £69 a sheet it's unlikely to be MDF.

I made all my skirting board/door & window surrounds from MDF and lived there for 20 years with no ill effects.

Good Info

seacam · 05-11-2009, 03:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlizzardUK

Firstly, thanks for the answers thus far, interesting.

Maybe I am confused. I thought some types of plywood are MDF ? The exact name of it on the receipt from the timbers is "birch ply 18mm" at £69 a sheet. Could it be veneer ? I will ask my mate, the reason I haven't asked him already is partly because I only just found out its risks (at 1am tonight) and I also don't want to be seen as a paranoid fool, haha.

Hi Blizzard

At £69 a sheet your friend knows quality, he has used a WPB ply or Marine ply, nice but overkill for a cabinet.

It would be a shame to paint it, stain it or something.

If I had made it for you and knew you were going to paint it, I would have done it in 25mm MDF and primed it.

ladydragon · 05-11-2009, 03:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by seacam

If I had made it for you and knew you were going to paint it, I would have done it in 25mm MDF and primed it.

Which is what I did with my bald kitchen when I moved in... Until I could afford 'proper' units and doors...

Recently ripped it out and put real kitchen cabinets in... After nine years...

paulyoung666 · 05-11-2009, 07:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by seacam

Hi Blizzard

At £69 a sheet your friend knows quality, he has used a WPB ply or Marine ply, nice but overkill for a cabinet.

It would be a shame to paint it, stain it or something.

If I had made it for you and knew you were going to paint it, I would have done it in 25mm MDF and primed it.

Hi Seacam,

It could well be veneered MDF , anyway , as others have stated , if it is MDF , it is perfectly safe , the issues come from inhaling the cut dust , full of Formaldehyde IIRC

seacam · 05-11-2009, 12:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulyoung666

Hi Seacam,

It could well be veneered MDF , anyway , as others have stated , if it is MDF , it is perfectly safe , the issues come from inhaling the cut dust , full of Formaldehyde IIRC

Hi Paul,

Formaldehyde, that's the name of the damn stuff, for love of money I couldn't recall its name this morning.

05-11-2009, 02:11	#1
BlizzardUK Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2,808	MDF health risks A friend kindly built me a big AV cabinet made of birch plywood (which I guess is MDF) to house all my equipment in for my one room studio flat. I didn't know before but I found out today that MDF gives out toxins if not sealed, even when not being cut, especially in heat. I am now obviously concerned, especially as he is making more cabinets for me out of the same wood. I have chest problems as it is, so I wouldn't want to make them worse. So, I don't want to over react, but at the same time given I live and sleep in the same room as the cabinet I feel I should at least do what I can to minimise the possible toxins or irritants. So what do you suggest ? Should I paint it ? If so what would seal it safe ? How unsafe is MDF after cut ? Thanks for any advice.

05-11-2009, 02:29	#3
ladydragon Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: God's Country Posts: 2,750	Plywood isn't MDF... The former is layered sheets and the later is fibres stuck together in my rather less than technical terminology... I've got an MDF fitted wardrobe in my bedroom I've not gotten around to finishing with paint and we're all still alive to tell the tale... And now ashamed when I recall how long I've been dithering about it... Confirm which it is as you might need to apply different products depending on what you want as a final finish...

05-11-2009, 02:57	#4
BlizzardUK Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2,808	Firstly, thanks for the answers thus far, interesting. Maybe I am confused. I thought some types of plywood are MDF ? The exact name of it on the receipt from the timbers is "birch ply 18mm" at £69 a sheet. Could it be veneer ? I will ask my mate, the reason I haven't asked him already is partly because I only just found out its risks (at 1am tonight) and I also don't want to be seen as a paranoid fool, haha.

05-11-2009, 03:15	#5
ladydragon Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: God's Country Posts: 2,750	Sounds like regular ply to me if that's what your receipt says... MDF looks like compressed weetabix and is very smooth on the surface... If I pull my nails over ply I can feel the grain in it... Ply is thin layered sheets or arguably, multiple veneers... Unless by veneer you mean a veneer finish where a base sheet has an oak wood effect (for example) top layer... Look at ply end on and you can see layers... Look at MDF end on and there's no layers... Hope that makes sense PS... I'm no wood expert so there's probably loads I don't know - but I have used both regular ply and regular MDF around the house and decorative stuff...