Alcove shelving project, ordering pre cut MDF?

[_dobbo_]

First world problems have struck in our household. You see, we were given, free of charge, a rather nice 60 inch Panasonic LED TV. It’s a couple of years old but it’s frankly pretty nice.

The problem – it’s too big. I mean, it’s really quite obnoxiously big. But then, can a TV ever really be too big? Well according to my wife, yes it can, and that one is.

Negotiations start and eventually we agree on a compromise – the TV can stay if I build a load of alcove storage into the space vacated by the current telly.

So I've whacked a design together and got approval from the wife (with the agreement that the green colour in Sketchup is not representative of what we will end up with):



The plan is to build the shelves in box section from MDF and recess some LED lights into them, all relatively straightforward.

Except, I can't seem to find somewhere that will precut the MDF to the required sizes. B&Q will do it for a trade customer, but I'm not that.

So any recommendations for somewhere that will cut the MDF to order? Because frankly I'd rather avoid making all those cuts myself....

[tactical lizard]

Try a different B&Q,

I have had loads of sheet wood and timber cut from B&Q and I am not a trade customer.

[Slagathore]

Avon Plywood in Bristol.

Just work out a cut list and email it over to them with the material you want and they'll work out how many sheets and give you a price.

There's some builder merchant types on Ebay that offer cutting as well. The problem is with delivery, though.

[_dobbo_]

Ah well that was easy then! I obviously spoke to the wrong person at B&Q on the phone, summer holiday student maybe.

[_dobbo_]

Slagathore said:

Avon Plywood in Bristol.

Ta, that looks like a good shout in the event I get no luck at B&Q. It's not enough wood or enough cuts to need to go further afield unless I have to.

[olimain]

Cutwrights get excellent feedback from cabinet makers and will edge it and prime it etc too (and do an online quote)

https://cutwrights.com/Home.aspx

Edited by olimain on Wednesday 17th August 17:21

[Slagathore]

_dobbo_ said:

Ta, that looks like a good shout in the event I get no luck at B&Q. It's not enough wood or enough cuts to need to go further afield unless I have to.

The cutting and delivery is really good, but the wood is not the cheapest.

They also sell Valchromat, which is a coloured MDF, which might be handy to save painting etc.

The sheet goods from B&Q etc are sometimes a bit st, but if you are going to paint, any marks or dings can be covered anyway.

[was8v]

A b&q warehouse store will do it for you in store. Just take your sheet over to the big saw.

[paulrockliffe]

Or go with the proper wood shop linked? You'd have to be pretty desperate and daft to think B&Q are the answer here.

[craigthecoupe]

paulrockliffe said:

Or go with the proper wood shop linked? You'd have to be pretty desperate and daft to think B&Q are the answer here.

why?

the place is hideous, and a bit overpriced, but to turn up, get the wood cut, pay and leave, it does what is needed.
sadly, most times i've been to specialist places for wood/metal/paint etc, i'm made to feel like a dick as i'm not in the trades, and don't know specific terminology etc.

that said, i had some wood cut for the same purpose at b&q, and the cuts are there or there about rather than spot on.

[skinnyman]

I've had stuff cut at B&Q, but it's always nearly there, instead of as requested, so not great for precious cut.

At the other end of the scale, as said above, cabinet maker type places have made me feel like a hindrance rather than a paying customer.

[bristolbaron]

On the basis of another place in bristol being suitable.. I used Burbage Joinery for an awkward cut of wood recently. It was something i'd never have got right myself and ended up basically the same price as a longer length of uncut wood from b&q.

[Simpo Two]

Just buy a cheap chop saw and do it yourself.

[paulrockliffe]

Why? Because it's over priced, they won't cut it accurately and it's the cheapest ste they can get away with.

Why would you when you can get decent quality cut exactly to size and cheaper somewhere else?

There'll be somewhere decent nearby.

[singlecoil]

Simpo Two said:

Just buy a cheap chop saw and do it yourself.

He would need to be able to rip the sheet into strips first, chop saw wouldn't be able to do that.

Track saw and two rails would be needed for that. That set-up would also be able to cope with the slightly angled ends and slightly different lengths that each of those shelves are going to need to be.

[SavanP]

One thing to be careful of is checking to see whether the alcove's are square. Once the MDF is cut down it is hard to re-instate an angle cut, so check this first.

I imagine, if the house is of any age, they won't be square, even varying up the height of the room. In this case, you may be better off cutting them on site.

[_dobbo_]

SavanP said:

One thing to be careful of is checking to see whether the alcove's are square. Once the MDF is cut down it is hard to re-instate an angle cut, so check this first.

I imagine, if the house is of any age, they won't be square, even varying up the height of the room. In this case, you may be better off cutting them on site.

Actually this is a good point. My intention was to "refine" any edges that weren't fitting but I haven't checked yet how true the walls are. It's a 1920s property and the alcoves are already different sizes (about 2cm different width) so checking from top to bottom as well is sensible. If they look OK I'll go pre cut, otherwise I'll get the circular saw out and do it myself.

[Simpo Two]

singlecoil said:

Simpo Two said:

Just buy a cheap chop saw and do it yourself.

He would need to be able to rip the sheet into strips first, chop saw wouldn't be able to do that.

True but B&Q/Homebase will do some cuts for you (just not loads). So they could do the ripping with their big slidey wall-mounted job and he could do the chopping.

[StoatInACoat]

_dobbo_ said:

Actually this is a good point. My intention was to "refine" any edges that weren't fitting but I haven't checked yet how true the walls are. It's a 1920s property and the alcoves are already different sizes (about 2cm different width) so checking from top to bottom as well is sensible. If they look OK I'll go pre cut, otherwise I'll get the circular saw out and do it myself.

Workmate with a decent sized bit of timber on top to extend it then clamp your MDF on to that and use a circular saw with a jig. I have one of these too which helps https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-SL35-Steel-Fra...

I recently bought a cordless lithium Ion one from Lidl (!) because my corded one was a faff (and it was £30!) and it's actually pretty good! Came with a guide too and it's fun chopping up wood and making st loads of mess in the garden. Wouldn't use MDF though, it WILL bow eventually.

You can buy half sheets of whatever timber you want from Wickes etc and it's easier to handle and chop up although can be slightly more expensive. If you can find a Travis Perkins that isn't entirely staffed by apes they also offer a chop service if you really can't be arsed.

Edited by StoatInACoat on Thursday 18th August 10:12

[Jonesy23]

The simple option if the alcove isn't square is to fully line it/build a full shelf unit, fill around the edges and paint the side panels to match the walls. All nice and square and not obvious as the MDF will take the same paint as the walls.

Trimming to match is a pain as it won't be straight or square so will never match exactly.

Or you could cut into the plaster to conceal the shelf edges which would also be a pain.