Show off your MDF props!

[hdtheater]

I love MDF!!!! 90% of what I build is with it. A couple of my favorites.

Imperial table

Star Tours(obviously)

Underworld Tomb Cover

-Eric

 

[brother tut bar]

excellent thread, i want some Star Wars furniture

 

[Ben Rowe]

Hi I'm new to the forums just stumbled across the forum after searching movie props. I make a lot of movie replicas out of MDF heres my version of the cosmic key from He-Man masters of the Universe.

 

[Pobbrett]

Hi I'm new to the forums just stumbled across the forum after searching movie props. I make a lot of movie replicas out of MDF heres my version of the cosmic key from He-Man masters of the Universe.

wow thats some intricate stuff ben, if you have some build pics we'd love to see a dedicated thread on it.

i found using standard pva (school glue) to weak and if you try and sand it it just peels so i started using the wood glue (same stuff but stronger) as it can take a sanding.

 

[ReproMan]

that masters key looks like a masterpiece to me

 

[Mollins]

Seeing all these impressive props made of MDF just reminds me how much I need to try the material myself, think I'll be waiting until I get my scroll saw before I try though.

 

[Toxx]

Seeing all these impressive props made of MDF just reminds me how much I need to try the material myself, think I'll be waiting until I get my scroll saw before I try though.

A scroll saw is a must for working with MDF, and it's fun anyway, but watch your fingers :rolleyes

 

[Mollins]

A scroll saw is a must for working with MDF, and it's fun anyway, but watch your fingers :rolleyes

Oh yeah,I wouldn't want to touch the stuff without one, last time I used it was in school, where we had bandsaws to use with it.
Been looking to pick one up anyway, makes my life so much easier if I can cut all my sintra using a scrollsaw, instead of using an x-acto and ending up with cramps in my hands!

 

[TK9120]

Okay ... this whole MDF prop building is completely new to me.

Is/Are there any "how to" and/or "step-by-step" resources demonstrating how to achieve some of the amazing results I'm seeing throughout this thread?

Using MDF is the same as using wood. It's not some magical material. It's basically sawdust and glue. It produces a lot of dust when cutting so wearing a mask is a good idea.

When you glue it it's a good idea to put two coats of glue on. The edges are very porous and suck up the glue like a sponge. For this reason you need to be careful with it as any little bump or bangs could distort the edges.

Also, when you paint it the edges need to be sealed to get a smooth finish. I use Kilz spray paint.

Here's a good article on painting: Tips for Painting MDF - Fine Woodworking Article

 

[deck5]

Using MDF is the same as using wood. It's not some magical material.

No magic, true. But it has no grain, is hell on a saw blade, releases formaldehyde when you cut it, falls apart if it gets wet, can't take screws or nails worth a damn, is very heavy, and isn't very strong. Handy for some things, though.

 

[pinder91]

Hi I'm new to the forums just stumbled across the forum after searching movie props. I make a lot of movie replicas out of MDF heres my version of the cosmic key from He-Man masters of the Universe.

Awesome! That is the first Cosmic Key replica I've EVER seen. Reminds me I have one somewhere on my To Do List. :thumbsup

 

[impala454]

Beautiful work in here. I like to build speakers out of MDF, but have yet to find a good way to seal up the end grain so I can get a good paint job on them. Any tips from all of you amazing pros in this thread? What's your process starting from raw MDF cutout to paint?

 

[BR12819]

MDF is probably the greatest thing to happen to prop building since resin, or sheet styrene, you're only limited in your imagination. I'm surprised member blindsquirrel hasn't posted here yet, he's done some pretty amazing stuff. BTW, great work guys, way to go.

 

[TK9120]

Beautiful work in here. I like to build speakers out of MDF, but have yet to find a good way to seal up the end grain so I can get a good paint job on them. Any tips from all of you amazing pros in this thread? What's your process starting from raw MDF cutout to paint?

I posted a link above on how to seal the edges and paint it.

 

[p00k1333]

I think I'll try the Kilz spray paint seal on the edges. The article referred to says to use no water based primers Only oil, alcohol, or lacquer based primers. But then, the author uses drywall compound to seal the edges. If I'm not mistaken, drywall compound is water based.

 

[hydin]

Amazing replicas here!

I have been researching how to do a Mr Freeze freeze gun from the animated series, and think I might give it a whirl in MDF.

Any particular brands to watch out for, or brands to look for? I plan on hitting lowes if that helps.

Chris

 

[impala454]

I posted a link above on how to seal the edges and paint it.

Just saw it, thanks!

 

[Ben Rowe]

wow thats some intricate stuff ben, if you have some build pics we'd love to see a dedicated thread on it.

Thanks unfortulantely i dont i had them all on my old phone before losing it.

I see theres lots of talk about gluing mdf i've been working with it for 5years now and i have found pva wood glue is great for laminatin large pieces together but i found the best thing to use is contact adhesive on both surfaces.

I have lots of other pieces (hoverboard, flux capacitor, bill and teds phone booth, and laser from tron legacy) that you can check out on my website benrowe.org. I would post here but im havin trouble uploadin images larger than thumbnails

 

[Drago Lordist]

I haven't had a lot of practice with sculpting anything out of a dense material (mostly light clays) so this was new ground for me. Still, I'm pretty satisfied with it and it's all MDF. This is the short sword of Altair from Assassin's Creed.

 

[Smiling Demon]

As a filler if it is small pieces you can use spot putty and smear it all over it and sand it down. I did that with my Thor hammer.


Kenny