Been working in the “go like hell pit ” and One thing I am trying to do is look at the bright side. Don’t know how long I can keep it up but i’ll try to keep you posted of my discoveries. Maybe you have some input on this one.
Trimmed out 2 houses on thursday and started a new one friday.
Both had crown in the dining room.
Both were MDF, mitred, upside down and against the fence, with a standard 45′ chop.
One house had a coped 3 1/2″ MDF Base moulding, upside down, coped in the cornersunder the crown.
One the joints looked like
. The other was tight. And with a little persuasion from a block and hammer, looked perfect.
My theroy: the base Moulding gave it a more stable platform On which to rest.
I am not sure that Crown could bemitred this tight with wood. why because mdf can actually be compressed.
If you cut it long, you can squeeze it in tight, and glue it. it seems to work.
My only question: how will it look in july and in decemeber will it buckle or shrink? This is new to me. I always coped the crown, V E R Y . > > S L O W L Y.
Where there’s A wheel there’s a way, got any wheels?
Replies
Who cares by then? You will be long gone, the Builder doesn't care or it wouldn't be MDF, and the poor sap buying the house won't know the difference.......
What part of Fine Homebuilding are you wondering about?
Man, that sounds nasty, doesn't it? Didn't mean it that way, just struck me as a quality concern issue where no quality is possible.
Joe H
Can't say for certain but another difference is $200,000 and $500,000 dollars. There is a lot of MDF Doors window sills. 3 fire place surrounds. They think it is FIne Homebuilding where I come From. Although I have seen Better. But I don't like to wait 5 years till sombody else tells me it is. There are a lot of new Ideas IMHO But As long as Money is an object . somthing gets sacrificed. I think that is true.Where there's A wheel there's a way, got any wheels?
Just a suggestion, listen to your body, not your pocket. Muleskinner, you are probaly way tougher than me, I thought I was tough, until my body "shut" down, literaly, it just plain quit on me, It has taken nine months for me, to get back to "normal''. The cause- Stress. good Luck, and Be Safe out there Jim J
The only trouble I've had with MDF trim is baseboard in a damp basement. It must have swollen ¼" in every 10'.
A few weeks past, I was back into a house I'd finished 5 yrs ago to do an upgrade. All MDF trim is still as tight as the day we left.
Turtleneck
the only miracles I've ever produced are waiting for me at home
Here's another scoop. MDF copes better after it has the first coat, of finish paint.
We have been averaging close to a house a day. Our crew has 2 experienced guys and 2 new guys. The boss is fond of saying things like you 2 guys make 1 guy. If he only knew that doesn't motivate people to work harder. lol
Anyway, We have so far done both phase one and phase two trim.
Phase 1 should be done in a day. Phase 2 should be done in a 1/2 a day. The base in phase 1 is primed from the factory and it takes us about 2 hours to do a whole house. Closets and all. Maybe a little longer.
After the floors are done We go back. Some of the base needs to be ripped down. We uses pieces, which we left behind for phase 2, for the painters to paint. It's my oservation that my copes are cleaner and eaiser on the painted MDF.
Only thing I would argue with you T is that if the MDF gets wet, Its not the MDF's fault. But I guess It has a better chance of surviving the wetness with real wood.
The question I have is: What happens to outside mitre's and case mitres? We glue all the joints with elmers wood glue. But I wonder if it doesn't all get sucked into the cardboard. I make all my joints tight. Even If i have to shim it out behind the joint. I still have not seen one thats been sitting for 5 years. I wonder If I I will.
Where there's A wheel there's a way, got any wheels?
Edited 6/1/2003 7:38:46 PM ET by MuleSkinner