Can You Sand MDF?

Can You Sand MDF?

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MDF or medium-density fiberboard is a great building material for a number of purposes. It might not be the strongest of all wood types, but it does have a variety of benefits. However, MDF is not the smoothest of all types of engineered wood. For this reason, you may want to sand it.

This begs the question – can you sand MDF in the first place? Let’s take a closer look right now.

Can (and Should) You Sand MDF?

If you are wondering whether or not it is possible to sand MDF, the answer is yes, it is technically possible. Now, it’s not the first thing that most people would do, but it is technically doable. You can use both sandpaper or an orbital sander for this task, as long as you are using the right kind of sandpaper.

In terms of whether or not you should sand MDF, there are both advantages and disadvantages to doing so.

Why Sand MDF?

In terms of the advantages, one is of course that you can get it perfectly smooth.

MDF is usually not 100% smooth and often has imperfections too. For this reason, for aesthetic purposes, you may want to smooth it out. This is especially the case if you plan on using it for visual purposes, such as for cabinets, furniture or anything else of the sort.

On that note, you may also want to sand medium-density fiberboard so you can then easily paint it. Sure, MDF that hasn’t been sanded can technically be painted, although it won’t produce the best result. If you want the painted medium-density fiberboard to look smooth and slick after painting, you do want to sand it first.

Why Not Sand MDF?

There are then also some reasons why you may want to avoid sanding it, or at least why you want to exercise a bit of caution when doing so.

First off, MDF has a layer of glue on the outside edges, the four thin sides. If you sand too much of this glue off, you will effectively remove some of the protection it has. No, MDF is not overly water resistant to begin with, but by sanding away the glue, you make it even less water-resistant.

The second reason to exercise caution when sanding MDF is due to all of the dust it creates. In terms of sanding wood products, MDF is probably the messiest of all. It produces a serious amount of dust and makes a huge mess. Moreover, MDF isn’t made with 100% non-toxic materials, and inhaling that dust can be hazardous to your health.

What Is the Best Type of Sander for Sanding MDF?

Orbital Sander MDF If you are planning on sanding MDF, there are a couple of options you have at your disposal.

If you are just sanding a few pieces, you could go at it manually with some basic sandpaper. On the other hand, if you’ve got a lot of MDF that needs sanding, doing so with an orbital sander is recommended.

Generally speaking, you want to start out with something like 120 grit, then move to 180, and then finish it off with 320 grit. This will allow you to achieve a totally smooth surface on your MDF.

How to Sand MDF

Sanding MDF is not very hard at all, and it hardly calls for a step-by-step tutorial. If you want to make life easy, use a combination of an orbital sander and manual sandpaper.

Start off by sanding the MDF using 120 grit sandpaper on your orbital sander. Sand it just like you would any other piece of wood. Once you have removed enough material and achieved a certain level of smoothness, you can then use your manual sandpaper.

If you want the best results, transition to 180 grit sandpaper, and then follow that up with 320 grit sandpaper. It might also be a good idea to wipe away any excess dust in between sanding sessions.

Mistakes to Avoid, Tips & Tricks

Lastly, here are a couple of tips to keep in mind as you go through the process:

  • Always wear a dust mask when sanding MDF. It releases a whole lot of dust, and it is quite toxic.
  • If it can be avoided, do not sand the edges of MDF, because you really don’t want to remove that protective glue.

Summary

As you can see, it is indeed possible to sand MDF. That said, do keep in mind that you don’t want to sand away all of the glue or sealant on the edges. You also don’t want to inhale any of that hazardous dust either.

However, to get MDF perfectly smooth and presentable for aesthetic purposes, you will probably want to sand it down a bit.