I just finished some built-ins for the Misses and I tried MDF for the first time. (after all they use the heck out of it on “Trading Spaces”!!! yeah….) My question is this, anybody ever encounter skin irritation from the dust. My face was really burning. I’ve never had anything bother me before, from treated lumber to huffing contact cement (fastbond 5 was the best, those were the days!) anyway, I would be interested in any comments. Thanks in advance.
Phil.. buildit4you
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I think there is formaldehyde in the mdf, which you released when you cut it. BTW you're gonna have a hard time getting it back into the mdf...
Do it right, or do it twice.
Sound like you have a "senstivity" to the dust, the glue or both. The dust from some woods and wood products is toxic and everyones reactions are different.
Seen if happen to a couple of trim guys around here.
Done trim for years always used wood moldings, ply, and "particle" type board. First time exposure to MDF; skin irritation; burning, itching and sinus irritation. One guy had nose bleeds so bad he couldn't work within 10 minutes of cutting a bunch of MDF baseboard.
You hear about it most when people are working with some of the less common or exotic woods. I know a wood worker who has to wear long sleeves and a respirator when he works mahogany or walnut. Skin irritation and burning are where it starts in his case!
There are various grades of MDF and the dust from some is more problematic than the dust from others.
As others have mentioned, you can become sensitive to various woods/wood products from working with them. Best bet is to protect yourself from the start with a dust mask as a minimum. And with MDF, a simple dust maks is indeed the minimum. The dust is so fine and talc-like that dust collection is a necessity.
Once you become sensitized to something, it's a downhill slide from there.