Hey folks,
About a month ago, I got around 700 small laser-cut pieces from raw MDF, and they haven't been coated with anything—just plain boards without paint or melamine. The cutting happened in a well-ventilated shop, so I thought everything was good.
However, I've been storing these pieces in a spacious, somewhat ventilated room, and there's still a lingering burnt MDF smell every time I check on them, especially from the charred edges.
I know that MDF can release formaldehyde and similar substances when it's cut or burned, but I'm worried if it's still releasing anything toxic after a month of sitting there. I'm planning to eventually use these pieces indoors, so I'm trying to figure out if I should be concerned or if this smell is just a normal part of the laser-cutting process.
Would sanding or sealing these edges help reduce the smell, or am I just being overly cautious? Any insights would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
I've dealt with some serious odors myself, and once, I had soot-covered furniture that stunk after a house fire. I used an ozone generator in a controlled environment, and after three days, the bad smell was mostly gone. Just make sure the setup doesn't affect anyone or anything living, as ozone can be harmful in high concentrations. But I'm not sure how effective it is against formaldehyde from MDF, to be honest.
MDF does off-gas formaldehyde for several years, but luckily the amount decreases over time. While sanding or sealing the edges might help with the burnt smell, it probably won't do much to cut down on formaldehyde emissions. Just keep that in mind if you're planning to use it indoors!
Exactly! It's better to be safe than sorry with these kinds of materials.
If you're laser cutting in the future, consider using formaldehyde-free MDF. It might be a better option to avoid this problem altogether in the long run!
That's good to know! So it sounds like I shouldn't rush into using these pieces without taking precautions first.