The short edges (in green) are from the original manufacturing and are straight. The longer edges (in red) have some damage to them within the first ~15mm. Therefore, I would like to remove 15mm from both long edges and square them up using the short edges as a reference.
How would I best approach this? My thoughts so far:
Planer/thicknesser would be my go-to for solid wood, but is no good here because it’s MDF
I believe that hand planing will be fairly arduous with MDF and likely dull the blades quickly
The track saw seems like a decent option. However, I believe the track is “183mm wide, plus an additional 2-3mm plastic lip” which is marginally bigger than the target width
Use the handheld router and a straight edge? Again could be tight due to the width of the boards. I could use an additional 18mm board along side to give some extra room?
Thoughts?
[1] These are brand new despite the damage, so no risk of nails or screws.
I would use the table saw with the sliding table. Register the known good edge on the 90° fence, clamp it down and cut one long side. Repeat for each plank, then set the main fence to your desired width and send them all through that.
EDIT: Use a cross-cut blade for MDF. More, smaller teeth = better finish.
Could also use the track saw using carpenters square to get a good like to follow from the good small side.
Then just get another piece of same thickness MDF out that next to your piece and rest the track across both.
Then tablesaw the second long side using track saw cut side as ref
I used the Makerspace to resolve a very similar problem back in January. I used a combination of the table saw and the track saw.
You’ll need to be inducted on either device, or ask very nicely if someone in the space is able to help you
I am a heavy advocate of the tracksaw ……. But I don’t think it is the best solution here
If it is not necessary to have the full 700mm length then I would trim one long side with the table saw, then use that edge as a reference against the fence again on the table saw to cut the opposite long edge.
Then you have two long parallel sides, then take these to the mitre saw and cut the short factory ends off at right angles.
The first thing I do with a new sheet of mdf is cut 3-4mm off the factory edge, it is often damaged and a freshly cut edge is always more compact (less fluffy) joins more accurately to other parts and takes a pair finish much better.
Unlikely that the short ends are factory finished as I don’t think a standard size is 700mm
Thanks all for your input - I used the approach suggested by @tomnewsom and @lewisss and it worked really well! Photo above as a reference for those considering this approach in the future.
