Child Item

How to cut 3mm MDF board?

Hello Members

I have to cut a rectangular opening on 3mm MDF board for exposing the power points behind it for usage.

Can you please recommend tools for cutting such a thick board. Probably on knife, need to repeat few scores for the detachment. Looking for any other tools to do the job. Not sure circular saws will leave the cut with imperfection for aesthitic appearance.

Thanks

Find more posts tagged with

Tools and Materials

Building and Construction

Accepted answers

All comments

MitchellMc

Hi @nagumuthu,

I'd recommend using a jigsaw as it's the perfect tool for intricate cuts like this. I'd also suggest fitting it with a fine-tooth blade which will give you some very clean and precise cuts.

You'll need to drill a hole large enough to accept the blade when beginning the cut.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

MuleBarn

If cables are out of the way a router can work very effectively.

EricL

Hello @MuleBarn

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. Thank you for joining the discussion.

Let me tag @nagumuthu to make them aware of your suggestion. Using a router would definitely give you a very tidy edge. It also lessens the possibility of edge tearing and getting a jagged finish on the ends. To make it even tidier you can build a makeshift guide to give you the perfect rectangular cut.

Thank you for sharing your recommendation for cutting 3mm MDF.

Eric

nagumuthu

Hello Eric,

Thanks for your recommendation.

May you please brief on 'makeshift guide'. I googled and could not find any clues on it.

Thanks

EricL

Hello @nagumuthu

The make-shift guide is actually just four pieces of timber joined together with screws and arranged in a rectangular fashion to guide the router while you are cutting the hole. I've placed an image below to give you an idea of how it is done. The timber frame is kept in place by clamping it onto the MDF board.

Please note that the timber guide needs to be adjusted to the size of the hole you'll be cutting.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

nagumuthu router frame1.jpg

Noyade

Good afternoon @nagumuthu

"Probably on knife, need to repeat few scores for the detachment."

Yes, it can be done - does the cut have to 'pretty?'

Is this so that a powerpoint can be utilised when something like a bookshelf backing is blocking access?

EricL

Hi @Noyade

Thank you for that suggestion! Let me tag @nagumuthu to make sure they see this excellent recommendation. If they are only cutting one or two access points this is one of the best ways to achieve a perfect cut.

Eric

nagumuthu

Hello @Noyade

Thanks for the recommendation. Yes it is. It's for exposing power and internet points that reside behind the 3mm MDF board at the back of the cabinet.

Noyade

Hi @nagumuthu

How did you get on?

nagumuthu

Hello @Noyade

The job was completed using Knife and it worked well. Plan B was to buy the router, if it did not work well. But I prefer to use router, as it is a hard work with knife.

Noyade

Yes it is hard but well done! 😁

Curious96

Hey @MitchellMc

Thanks for the advice on getting those tools, will surely look into them. At the moment I have a small handheld mechanical saw at home so maybe I will try that out first. But if I have to get a jigsaw or grinder to cut mdf, I will need to clamp it down. What vice do I need to use to have the mdf clamped down flat on the table? I don't want to be using a regular bench vice and having it suspended it air. This will mean for me to turn the jigsaw sideways and use it so I won't be able to get a clean straight cut. Newbie as you can imagine 🙂 Please let me know.

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Curious96. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about clamping timber.

For clamping a flat MDF panel to a tabletop, I'd recommend picking up a couple of these quick grip clamps. Pop one on either side of the board, clamping it down to the table. You'll want the area you are cutting as close to the edge of the table as possible before you actually start cutting into the table.

Please let me know if you have further questions.

Mitchell

Child Item