Prototype Question

use some pine. bob

Yeah, like Bob said, use the pine instead. MDF or any of the manufactured goods (like plywood) are a pain to turn - lots and lots and lots of powdery dust with the MDF and very hot and hard turning the plywoods.

_____ American Association of Woodturners Cascade Woodturners Assoc., Portland, Oregon Northwest Woodturners, Tigard, Oregon _____

MDF dulls tools rather quickly. The fine dust is toxic (contains formaldehyde). You will need a very good dust collection system with at least a 1 micron filter. It will take fine detail.

Pine would be my choice.

Thanks.

Tim

Thanks. I suspected that this might be the case, but thought I would check it out before anything was spinning. Tim

While pine is better than MDF, I would opt for poplar. There isn't a big cost difference and the grain on the poplar is tighter and I think turns easier and gives better results than pine. Yes I realize that it is for prototypes, but you still want to make it look nice. Martin

I prefer poplar or basswood for prototypes and samples over the large grain of pine. Here in Indiana, poplar is cheaper than clear pine.

cough.....cough....cough.....(don't use the termite barf...)

Bob S.