Grow cab... is MDF wood safe? (formaldehyde, etc)?

[dark horse]

I found a small cabinet made of MDF wood, probably the cheapest stuff in existence since it's a commercial product, is this going to be oK?

The thing I was thinking about was formaldehyde or some other weird toxin bleeding over into my nugs.....am I worried over nothing?

 

[OrganicBuds]

No, MDF has high amounts of VOC's. Just like ply wood.

 

[foomar]

MDF is so weak and prone to water damage i would avoid it , regardless of any offgassing problem.

In the past i built cabinets and room partitions useing it , two coats of matt white emulsion and no problems seen.

In a poorly ventilated box or running hot it could become a real issue , the foul stench of chems when burnt on a fire indicates a lot of glue/resin in there as well as sawdust.

 

[dark horse]

No, MDF has high amounts of VOC's. Just like ply wood.

So you're saying the same gasses would be found being given off by plywood?

 

[PrivateAero]

I was thinking the safe thing. plywood causes problems?

Privateaero

 

[foomar]

Used interior , exterior and marine grades of plywood with no bad effects seen , painted or bare.

With fresh ply ran hot with little ventilation you might just have a problem , but i cannot see ply as being particularly dangerous , esp compared to growtent problems which still surface.

All sheet materials have some glue or resin component holding them together , a coat of low VOC water based primer/emulsion should allow their use.

Worst material i would expect to be plastic coated chipboard as used in really cheap furniture.