How to Make Super Cheap Baseboard. WHY PAY MORE??

[@Mamabarron]

My husband and I just left Lowes pretty bummed and surprised at just how expensive trim would be for us. Thank you so much for this video, you saved us so much money!

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

You are so welcome! Just remember you can make easy cuts to change the profile and make some very unique trim. Good luck and have fun

[@texteacher7706]

My daughter and I are building her house. Your video help convince her that she would save significantly if we make our own base boards. Thanks!

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Awesome. It easy to add additional featurs

[@amywhitston8857]

I just trimmed out my whole house, and it's gorgeous but took me WAY over budget. I'm starting on a rental house, and this video was such a beautiful surprise. Make my own trim, of course! Thank you for your service, and thank you for these tips.

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

You are most welcome. Best of success to you

[@evalinawarne1337]

Your welcome PAWPAW My mom gave my dad's tools to someone else. Because I did not know how to use them. Plus she gave them away before she asked me if I would want them. She didn't think I would use them. Which I understand her thinking. I did get a few thing's like his power drill etc. If I had a choice. I would of taken much more. All his wood cutting knives. I was their only child. I used to sit by him as a child for hours & years. Helped him out when he asked. I loved those times. Thank you for sharing your time with all of us. Your a TRUE BLESSING.. GOD BLESS YOU & YOUR FAMILY🀄🔯 WOOD WITH YOU. NEXT TIME. CHOW

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Wow, that is a great story. It sounds like you are continuing in his footsteps.

[@timmholl9238]

I just watched this on Veteran's Day 2020. Belated Happy Marine Corps birthday, good sir. And thank you for your service.

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Much appreciated. Thank you

[@jamescook5617]

$21 for 4'x8' MDF. Try more like $50 now. I think the store made stuff has not inflated as much, now the trade-off is more like 1$/ft vs. $0.70/ft. Of course, the fancier trim is more like $2/ft or more, so there the savings would be much more felt.

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Yes, a lot has changed since this video was published

[@jamescook5617]

@@PawPawsWorkShop I wish your price was correct. I think the cheapest store bought base board is the 16ft, 3.5inch stuff from Lowes. If you buy the bundle it's like $0.60 per foot. Which still seems really high to me, I may go with cheaper wood and paint it myself. Gives me an excuse to buy a planer.

[@ericacain1582]

Thank you! You just saved my budget by hundreds!!! 🤯

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Awesome! Glad I could help! You're very welcome.

[@toretheesh]

This is something I planned and looking for inspiration, you made my day.. Thanks

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

You are so welcome!

[@codycharles7147]

That fence for your router table is great. I also love that you use melamine for your work benches, that stuff is tough!

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Thank you very much.

[@charliesmith9528]

I am 66 and have too much time on my hands so i have been doing remodel jobs,,i finally bought a nice router and table,,,i was amazed with table saw to rip boards and the router to dress up the trim how much money it saves,,i also have been making pic frames,,the router is a work in progress,,i saw right away how east it owuld be to cut off a finger,,i like your mdf idea,,mdf is a great material,,like you said no sanding

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Thanks for sharing your story. Be safe, the tools can be a tremendous of enjoyment however they can be dangerous. You can enjoy this hobby for many years to come.

[@charliesmith9528]

@@PawPawsWorkShop Yes its pretty fulfilling to make things with our hands vs buying it,,im a old welder and GM mechanic,,im more use to making things with metal but have always built my own sheds etc...i bought the router a few years ago and have yet to really use it enough to get good at it..def need to find a used planer on marketplace...ive noticed many woodworking tools on there,,my so bought a hardly used all in one machine,,maybe its called a worksmith,,anyway he bought it for 150,,wife was sellling all of her dead husbands toys,,the guy had hardly ever used it..thanks for your video..i been installing laminate flooring last 3 days and can hardly move after pulling old carpet and the hundreds of old staples...going to take a few days off to let muscles rest,,SUCKS getting old...stay safe and pray for our country

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Thanks for sharing your story. Yes, it does suck getting old. I’ve got a few years on you. The golden years that we all use to hear about is anything but golden. Most of my appointments these days are to the doctors. I just say patch me up so I can get back in the game of life. I enjoy making the videos for people to learn and enjoy the hobby. Some even turn this into a new career. Yes, I very much pray for our country. As a veteran, I just can’t believe how this country has changed.

[@charliesmith9528]

@@PawPawsWorkShop Thank you for your sevice,I understand about the drs appts,,I finally finished the room i was putting flooring in..trim looks decent..didnt do anything fancy just ripped some boards and cut to length and put a nice edge on top with router.Son showed me some tricks about the router that helped alot,,he is like a artist with woodworking..the bits i had were cheap so he gave me some of his and what a difference...stay safe,,by watching the news it looks as though Biden is farmore corrupt than anyone imagined,,i doubt if they touch him however,,have a safe 4th sir

[@navpap1029]

Tip: spray the full board before cutting, then cover on top edge after that

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Good idea

[@ian9toes]

That is such a good idea

[@ajcaliguire]

Does this impact the seal of the primer? Do you use one or two coats of primer?

[@paul-ld9vh]

Great idea! I've built my own casing and picture frames using your concept for some time now. You can make it how you want it to look! Great video!

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Awesome! Thank you very much.

[@drmodestoesq]

You also can get the Despot or the Lowes to cut it on the panel saw. Not the whole sheet. They charge per cut. But just a couple to make the cutting up into strip process more manageable. Especially if you only have one of those small job site table saws.

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Yes, a great service that Home Depot and Lowe’s provide

[@paulscala2907]

Thanks for the tip

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

You’re welcome

[@Ang.0910]

Hi. Just so you know people…when MDF gets wet it bubbles and expands and eventually falls apart. So don’t put it in kitchens and bathrooms where you mop. MDF doesn’t last as long as real wood. But it’s the cheapest option available and can be made to look nice. Weigh the pros and cons as with everything. Good luck ✌️

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

You must seal the MDF on all sides. Look at the big box stores most of the Moulding is MDF. PVC Moulding is available but expensive. No water issues. Real wood still needs to be sealed on all sides

[@KS-sk7jr]

Thanks for sharing

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching

[@Acheron2010]

Will have to do the math whether the current (2023) price of MDF plus a table saw and router with table is less than just finished baseboard.

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Yes prices are a big factor in this economy. The ready made products are also up in price

[@zero_____given]

Paw Paw another great video ,love your tips and shop trick's, keep up the great work.

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Thank you very much.

[@cathywatral4784]

Thank you paw paw! Love your videos! Helps me learn how to do stuff in the little cabin I'm building.Awesome!!

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Awesome! I am glad that it is helping you build your little cabin. Thank you very much.

[@thebaddestlarry9424]

Hmm I never considered using that. I always just used 1x6 pine and made a similar top that you had but made it with a table saw and router. Then used the table saw again to put a nice shallow line right below it.

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Thank you for sharing. That method would work great

[@BigKeith510]

I did this using a track saw and hand held router came out great.

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Yes, that is another great way of doing it. Thank you for sharing your method.

[@Zeppodone1000mg]

So glad I came across this comment, lumber is ridiculous right now (April 2021) and I have two homes to trim. I do not own a table saw because I don’t want a cheap job site one and the larger ones are expensive but I just bought a track saw and a Bosch 2.3hp router kit and lots of molding bits. I’m going to do a lot of this and use an extravagant bit I found, one question, can you do crown molding this same way or is it completely different ?

[@kkpage01100]

@@Zeppodone1000mg honestly the little table saws will work good if you don’t want to break bank too much find one on offerup i find stuff on there all the time

[@ReasonablySane]

Sadly, my lowe's only has 5/8 MDF and they want $50 for a sheet. No prob, though. My local Peddler's mall has 2x8 sheets of 7 ply plywood in 5/8 thickness for $10. Mine are going to be just under six inches (I have ten foot high walls and an open ceiling) and I can get four out of each sheet if I make them just a hair less than six inches. I might have to apply a coat of wood filler on the edge, but that is a small price to pay. Oh, and they are finished maple...

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Awesome

[@mariad4183]

Great info! tyfs😃

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

You’re welcome

[@briang4225]

This guy saved me $1,000s of dollars

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Yeah!! That’s awesome!

[@sixpackbinky]

Those look great! Thank you!

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

You are so welcome!

[@briant9764]

i think your ideas is great i did a bedroom cost $33 bucks one problem a picture fell off the wall and hit the trim took a big chunk out. I i used bondo to repair. once painted you cant tell i difference from craftsman trim. the craftsman trim from lowes and HD is mdf

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Thank you very much. Any moulding is subject to this type of damage. Bondo is an excellent solution to repair.

[@kevinl20082008]

Awesome thanks you the 😎

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

You’re welcome

[@plaintuber4036]

Wow!!! Great information!!! Thanks

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MakeGood]

Hey paw paw! Great video! I had the same idea for my new house. I was wondering if you thought it was necessary to prime the back and underside of the baseboard... maybe for added moisture protection? Also, are you getting any visible seams when you install them?

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Yes, the entire surface should be primed

[@trainwon5699]

Awesome thanks

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Thank you and you're welcome

[@Justin-Outdoors]

You can’t compare that to primed baseboard because those you still have to paint.

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Certainly it a consideration. Not you know the raw cost of the material. Only you can determine it this is a workable solution for you

[@andrewmorke]

Thanks for your video.

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

You are welcome

[@jax8087]

Total budget- $5.50 for 20 sheets of MDF $10,000 for new table saw and router table. Thanks PawPaw 😂 joking thanks for video

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Lol, the table saw is about sixty years old. I think it has paid for it self. Ahh, the router table is built from scrap plywood and the router is just over $100 bucks. People do not ever build a shop for just one project. You do it for the long haul and for the enjoyment of mastering your craft. Definitely not worth it if you never use the tools for another project. But a car and only go to the store once. Not practical

[@rickcox3806]

I’m getting ready to invest into one of these laser cutters but you’re saying seven white won’t cut 16th of an inch how about a 50 W would it go through and how thick of wood would it end up being able to cut?

[@UncleDonDon]

Good stuff, PawPaw.

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Thank you kindly

[@kankan572]

Would it not be cheaper to use 1x4s or 1x6 since mdf is so expensive? A 4x8 mdf board at Home Depot is $45 1x4s (the size baseboards I’m doing) are $3.48 for an 8 ft piece…or am I adding this wrong in my head lol?

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

At 3.48for 8 feet that is $.44 per foot. A full sheet can be cut into 3.375” will yield 14 boards 8 feet long. So, with your numbers you will get 112 linear feet x .44 = 48.72. Not a big difference unless you are doing a whole house. For just one room I agree it’s not worth the effort. At the time of this video the prices were significantly different.

[@victorvek5227]

What about cost and time necessary for the shellac-based primer / sanding sealer afterward?

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Make that judgement for yourself

[@victorvek5227]

@@PawPawsWorkShop lol. Fair enough

[@ginoasci2876]

MDF for trim ? maybe if you cap the edge, but chamfering the edge like you did doest look good in my opinion. i don’t know where you saw this being done in new construction but it’s definitely not industry standard. more like substandard. MDF doesn’t belong in kitchens or bathrooms. possibly in some sort of ceiling applications, but not for baseboards in a kitchen or bath. anyway, to each his own.

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

You may have not realize but much of the Moulding in the lumberyard is MDF. It’s primed and you may not notice. The profile was for a specific job. You can make any profile that you wish

[@Mrdubomb]

That’s all that’s used up here in Canada

[@ginoasci2876]

@@PawPawsWorkShop : you’re right, i have seen it. it has been out fir a long time but it doesn’t belong everywhere. the environment has to always be dry, snd also no humidity like a bathroom in the winter with hot steamy showers. i’ll be installing a coffered ceiling in my kitchen at some point and i may very well use it there. cheers

[@boots7859]

@@ginoasci2876 I was going to reply similarly with wet conditions, however he does say its getting painted. Will have to look, surprised that BB is MDF now. A nice roundover or other bit could look nice too.

[@HashMeister]

Is it necessary to use moisture resistant MDF or will normal MDF work fine if its BIN primed sealed and painted?

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Just look at any big box store and you will see most of the Moulding in MDF and it is not moisture resistant. Seal it very well and then paint

[@AltruisticWarrior]

I personally recommend a good layer of high quality primer and something like Behr high gloss ultra white. It has a very resistant sheen about as close as latex can get to an oil based paint. It also looks extremely clean when painted right. Just be sure to use a high quality brush. Personally I recommend a Purdy with a short nubby handle w/ a 45 degree brush cut. Never throw those brushes out. If you clean them with water every few hours during painting to keep the brush strokes from getting tacky and afterwards with warm water in a sink using a wire brush going with the bristles... it'll literally last your entire lifetime. 16 bucks for a brush isn't so bad when you look at it that way. I have one that's over 30 years old and I prefer it over my newer ones tbh. Oh if the paint you're using starts to get a bit too tacky and won't lay down right, you can stir in a touch of water to keep that from happening too. 😊

[@HashMeister]

@@AltruisticWarrior thanks. Personally I would use floetrol added to any water based paint and a decent synthetic brush would do.

[@AJ_L]

Paw Paw, do you have any suggestions on how to manufacture a clamshell baseboard from pine? My home was built in 1963 and I can’t find matching clamshell with the same height and thickness so I bought pine but can’t find any router bits that will cut a clamshell pattern. Thanks much.

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

I just did a simple Google search and found numerous sources that may be able to custom make a router bit for you

[@AJ_L]

@@PawPawsWorkShop Did not know that custom made bits were a possibility. Thank you! I'll do a search.

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Yes, custom bits can be made for routers and shapers. That should solve your problem

[@Therealphantomzero]

Wow and the funny part is in our area they are putting in mdf base board that has no chamfer.... So just rip them down and be done lol

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Just look in the lumber yards and big box stores, it is sold and it is not cheap.

[@Therealphantomzero]

@@PawPawsWorkShop i agree with you but what I'm saying is I'll be saving a step making it even cheaper for me haha

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

So, true. One piece of advice. Seal the wood first, then paint.

[@Therealphantomzero]

@@PawPawsWorkShop yeah i use INSLX primer on mdf the use INSLX Cabinet coat. Live that product you would give it a try

[@Mrdubomb]

Any opinion on using pine or spruce from the big box stores for base board?

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

The quality of the boards are the issue including the number of knots present. Most are warped and full of knots and imperfections.

[@Mrdubomb]

@@PawPawsWorkShop I’ve been thinking about using 3/4 sanded one side plywood as a simple base board, ripping it down and edge banding the top edge Any thoughts on this?

[@abennett0695]

Wow! $21 a sheet in 2020 - I am looking at $47.43 April 1, 2022. 😣 ugh!

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Crazy stuff

[@thirtysomething4532]

Would this work without the chamfer? I think I’m spelling that right? I have a table saw but no router table.

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

You can still put the chamfer on to the wood using the table saw. Just tilt the blade to 45 degrees and make your cut

[@rickcox3806]

And if you would please help me out here what’s the advantage of owning a 50 W compared to a 7 W is 52 powerful for somethings or is seven not nowhere near enough as we just seen please help me with this and or this question

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

The original laser I got was a 7 watt JTech laser that I put on my XCarve CNC machine. Not good for cutting. Fast forward to today with 40watt. XTool and the Sculpfun lasers. These lasers will cut through 1/2” wood. Now, I want to say I do not recommend using a laser to cut materials. You will burn out the laser quickly. There are better ways to do the cutting. Lasers are great for engraving many different materials

[@rickcox3806]

Just wanted to say thank you for that honest answer but I do enjoy your videos, so please keep it up. I will support you.

[@michaeldishon2939]

I would worry if it gets wet an swelling

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Go to the lumberyard and the big box stores. You will find MDF Moulding everywhere. It’s actually hard to find solid wood in certain parts of the country.

[@ferrariunicorn]

How do you make MDF at home😅

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

I’m not making MDF. I’m making base Moulding from MDF

[@ScooterBean]

$130 goes a long way in a project for other stuff or a tool you might want, etc.

[@Calaxt01]

What about the relief cut in the back?

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

That is not necessary is all situations. If the wall is really ruff it can help but usually that is not the case.

[@Calaxt01]

@@PawPawsWorkShop Thanks for the response.

[@Airtouch67]

.29 cents a linear foot + the $6000.00 in equipment that you need to make the baseboards.

[@MAGAMAN]

You are definitely going to me losing some fingers one of these days. Most common comment from people with table saw injuries is "I have been doing it this was for 10/20/30/40 years and never had a problem" It only takes once and they are gone.

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Thank you for you concern

[@markmywords2840]

So "ANYONE can do this"?... yeah... ANYONE who already has a tablesaw, router, and workshop. Easy peasy

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Or a circular saw, router and a couple of sawhorses

[@janetrandle6882]

WHY AREN’T YOU USING A PUSH STICK, SERIOUSLY. YOUR ARM WAS GOING RIGHT OVER THE FRICKEN BLADE!!! BAD EXAMPLE FOR PEOPLE

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Thank you for your concern

[@newbeginning8134]

Janet 😮😮😮😮😮

[@davidrife8662]

Shut up dude

[@MechInvent]

I just paid $5 a ft ... 😭

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

Prices are going totally crazy. I hope that it gets reasonable again. This is a great inexpensive alternative.

[@MechInvent]

@@PawPawsWorkShop I'm 100% using your method, and now I'm trying to decide which brand of router and saw I'm getting. Thank you.

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

You're welcome

[@richardpointer]

Because MDF is trash. That is why you would pay more.

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

MDF is widely used for moulding, just look in the retail stores and you will see it everywhere. Not to mention your cabinets are most likely made of the same stuff.

[@markw3598]

Richard, LOL, Why do you "thumb up" your own comments?