Finger-jointed poplar: offgassing?
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About to trim out an entire house. I have the option of clear poplar and finger jointed poplar. My house is tight, and I have been careful about not ousting mdf for off gassing reasons. The finger jointed poplar is nice because it comes in 16 foot lengths, and it is a little cheaper. I imagine a little greener because it is helping use up scrap wood. My question… Is there any concern of off gassing, similar to mdf?
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Replies
Dean, the amount of adhesive in finger jointed stock is much lower than in mdf. I believe most finger jointed stock these days uses a polyurethane-based adhesive, which likely offgasses at the factory for the most part. If you or your client has extreme MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity) I would want to know more about the glues used, but for most people, in a house with adequate ventilation, it's nothing I would worry about.