Mitre saw or Joiner ?

[dunnah01]

If you really want a decent mitre saw just buy a decent one off fleebay and sell it on afterwards

 

[robnchris]

I hate mdf.
It’s a pig to scribe and the dust isn’t good for you either

That plus it will blunt your tools faster than you can sharpen them, useless were it might get damp.
Natural wood won't be a problem if it is dried out, definitely don't go to the likes of B&Q for any wood were the finished job will be seen.

 

[PeteH]

Formaldehyde -- lovely :-(

Yes, But think your insides will be well preserved?

 

[Reallyretired]

We replaced all the painted woodwork in our house with varnished wood. Professional job but cost a lot. Cheapest bit was the oak doors, which were ready made, however one door in the hall cost a bomb as it had to be specially made.

 

[MisterB]

Chances are you won't have a true 90' corner anywhere, a joiner would never a 45'mitre joint for an internal corner, he will use a scribed joint.
External corners will be mitre cuts, fitted accordingly.

But to make a scribed joint, it's easier to mitre one of the halves of the joint

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[PeteH]

Hmmm?. Builders and "straight" seem to be a real oxymoron. Anywhere within "Arf an inch" would seem to be accurate?. 90deg?. What`s that all about then?.

To be fair. The brickie, who did my Walling on the self build, was brilliant I have photo`s (somewhere) and a 7meter+ wall is as straight as anything I have seen. BUT he was an "old fashioned" tradesman and retired a few months after he completed my brickwork. ( I did 99% of the rest) I doggy walk past a site every day, and the quality of construction?, well, lets just say it leaves a lot to be desired IMV. They wear`nt working for several weeks, and I had a peek at what was done, the crap on the ties alone is going to lead to damp issues in some future I suspect.

 

[Silver-Fox]

The health effects of MDF dust are similar to those of ordinary wood dust, as described in HSE Woodworking Sheets (WS's) numbers 6 and 30.

I would say that is b s

Wood doesn’t cut as fine as mdf and wood isn’t full of the s**t they put into mdf.

 

[Silver-Fox]

I doggy walk past a site every day, and the quality of construction?,

No one should use the word quality in the same paragraph as modern house construction ??

I really despair at the lack of quality on these large sites these days.

Fortunately I work for a bloke that appreciates a good job.

I still need to educate the plasters though, bloody bell cast at the bottom of skim I have to chop of does my noodle in ?

 

[jockaneezer]

My son got a joiner to do his, mdf with an oak veneer, best/worst of both worlds ? They look smashing !

 

[treetops1]

You could hire an electric saw for a day from most hire shops .Do all your cuts in a day then return the saw and complete at leasure .BUT a lot of the softwood today is rubbish,full of knots and marks from the cutting machines ,i do not envy you the job lol.Good Luck.

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[robnchris]

But to make a scribed joint, it's easier to mitre one of the halves of the joint

It's certainly one way of doing it.

 

[Norfolk Red]

No one should use the word quality in the same paragraph as modern house construction ??

I really despair at the lack of quality on these large sites these days.

Fortunately I work for a bloke that appreciates a good job.

I still need to educate the plasters though, bloody bell cast at the bottom of skim I have to chop of does my noodle in ?

I'm with you on that one, and the one where they put about 2 to 3mm of skim over the door linings which is a pain in the you know where.

 

[TUCANO]

I am pleased I started this conversation as I am enjoying the thoughts expressed by people who are obviously still in the building trade, many thanks.
I feel that modern house production is a case of building companies simply assembling bought in kits from the various manufacturers, my kitchen sink is exactly the same as the one a sister has in her plastic built holiday chalet.
No way can I afford professional builders or oak anything, perhaps an MDF coffin

 

[ChrisL]

If I could afford real wood

Have you thought about looking in an Architectural salvage yard? I once got a load of Mahogany skirting board which had come from a posh old house, which I used to repair an old yacht, but it could have been reused as skirting most of it was in really good condition. Might be worth a look.

 

[PeteH]

Have you thought about looking in an Architectural salvage yard? I once got a load of Mahogany skirting board which had come from a posh old house, which I used to repair an old yacht, but it could have been reused as skirting most of it was in really good condition. Might be worth a look.

That one is done to death by the "Homes on T-V" mob. They Salvagers are well aware of it`s value, to "well healed" punters. Used to be the "go to" places I got a Beautiful piece of mahogany for a Fireplace mantle, at a virtual giveaway. Not now though!

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[WillH]

I served my time as an engineer and learned a long, long time ago it is better to buy the right tools for the job before you start. There have been times I have thought differently only to be proved wrong. And, once you have bought the tools, you have them forever, or, until you loan them to someone.

 

[Bustup15]

All this thread has done is make me look at more You Tube videos of 'How To ........ '

Some good ones by Robin Crevett on
Fitting Door Trims, Architraves & Skirting Boards


- even using MDF @Tocano

Makes it look so simple but I bet its not!

 

[rangi]

Exactly
The bloody stuff should be banned

It was in Aus when I was there. so I suppose it still is there.

I was working on a block of apartments in Falmouth, a chippie was cutting Mdf, I walked off the job!

It was a MIDAS job,. the site Foreman didn't have a clue how dangerous it was.

 

[Silver-Fox]

I'm with you on that one, and the one where they put about 2 to 3mm of skim over the door linings which is a pain in the you know where.

Yes doesn’t help with fitting the architrave does it ?

 

[Bustup15]

It was in Aus when I was there. so I suppose it still is there.

I was working on a block of apartments in Falmouth, a chippie was cutting Mdf, I walked off the job!

It was a MIDAS job,. the site Foreman didn't have a clue how dangerous it was.

I know nothing about this but this is from HSE website

Q6. Is MDF banned in other countries and, if so, why not in the UK?
HSE is not aware of any countries in the world where MDF is banned.

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[olley]

Nice stuff for making furniture doors use the water resistant grade and they are fine in bathrooms.
Dimensionally very stable take glue and paint, properly painted and sanded and you can achieve a high gloss. You can easily make them look like cathedral style panel doors and best of all cheap.
Whats not to like.

 

[rangi]

I know nothing about this but this is from HSE website

Q6. Is MDF banned in other countries and, if so, why not in the UK?
HSE is not aware of any countries in the world where MDF is banned.

It's banned! very nasty stuff. Here in Cornwall anyone on site working on it, is told to mask up, a proper face mask, one that can filter out fumes.

HSE makes up their own rules , to be quite frank they wouldn't know if you were two blocks up 'em with the rough end of a pineapple.

 

[two]

If you want a professional job, and it seems that you do, get a professional to do it.
DIY and you'll end up cursing all the faults that no one else sees.

 

[Marty Gilly and Pup]

As someone who has done thousands of these jobs and spent fifteen years teaching others how to do it, I’d get someone in. But if you can find a friendly one he might teach you. Would take half a day to show you how to do it properly. It doesn’t need a mitre saw but skill and a little knowledge.

 

[bigwood]

Professionals are qualified in hiding cock ups and bodge jobs and charging for it.

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[GWAYGWAY]

Especially if from B&Q.
Comes as standard with excess knots, warps, twists and splits.

I had toget 4x2 from Jewsons and that was rifled wood if you didn't choose your own.

 

[Silver-Fox]

Whats not to like

The dust and it “shells” ?

 

[PeteH]

MDF. The health effects of exposure would appear to be centred less about the Formaldehyde content more the Low level exposure to the dust, as with ANY dust, can lead to breathing issues, and is worse in those who already have existing chest health issues. Despite rumours, it is NOT (as of 2013 anyway) banned anywhere in the world. Most workplaces (should) carry warnings that good masking must be worn when working with (any) dust producing device.

This would apply to any operation where "dust" is produced too.

https://www.bwf.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/assets/07_mdf.pdf

Formaldehyde: general information

www.gov.uk

 

[two]

Professionals are qualified in hiding cock ups and bodge jobs and charging for it.

That sounds more like a general 'handyman' masquerading as a Professional.
Professionals focus on one skill and maintain a reputation. Get one with references.