This is a similar but more general question to one posted by Morris Dovey.
I'm making a workbench with an MDF top. I'm a little concerned about
eventually ruining it with drops of glue, oil, paint, etc.. Has anyone ever
applied a coat of Polyurethane to the top of MDF? How did it turn out?
Thanks for your help.
Kevin
On Sun, 22 May 2005 00:36:26 GMT, "BobS" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Gotta agree with using the Watco - that really pops the grain.......;-)
>
Clear only.
It's a sin to stain it. <G>
The MDF should be allowed to darken naturally in the sun, or fumed.
Barry
On Sat, 21 May 2005 21:59:39 GMT, "klklimes" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Has anyone ever
>applied a coat of Polyurethane to the top of MDF? How did it turn out?
Fine.
Try it on a scrap of the same MDF.
Shellac, lacquer, or any other finish you'd put on wood can be used on
MDF.
Barry
I have an MDF top workbench also. Lots of stain splotches and glue droplet
stains. I wouldn't consider it ruined... after all, it's a "work bench"
How does "drops of glue, oil, paint, etc" ruin a work bench? Does it double
as a kitchen table for you?? :)
"klklimes" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:fbOje.23786$796.12475@attbi_s21...
> This is a similar but more general question to one posted by Morris Dovey.
> I'm making a workbench with an MDF top. I'm a little concerned about
> eventually ruining it with drops of glue, oil, paint, etc.. Has anyone
> ever applied a coat of Polyurethane to the top of MDF? How did it turn
> out?
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Kevin
>
>
"klklimes" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:fbOje.23786$796.12475@attbi_s21...
> This is a similar but more general question to one posted by Morris Dovey.
> I'm making a workbench with an MDF top. I'm a little concerned about
> eventually ruining it with drops of glue, oil, paint, etc.. Has anyone
> ever applied a coat of Polyurethane to the top of MDF? How did it turn
> out?
Poly works well. Does not look any prettier, but it does offer protection.
Gotta agree with using the Watco - that really pops the grain.......;-)
Bob S.
"klklimes" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:fbOje.23786$796.12475@attbi_s21...
> This is a similar but more general question to one posted by Morris Dovey.
> I'm making a workbench with an MDF top. I'm a little concerned about
> eventually ruining it with drops of glue, oil, paint, etc.. Has anyone
> ever applied a coat of Polyurethane to the top of MDF? How did it turn
> out?
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Kevin
>
>
I've done that for several years. With a workbench I want something that dries
quickly, and can be easily restored. Have used both shellac and wb poly, with
the poly convenient as it's more resistant to alcohol and such. Every so often
I run a hand scraper over the top lightly and may sand it down just with a
rotary 220. A coat of wb poly is dry enough in a few hours to scuff sand and
it's ready for a few more months.
A tempered hardboard cover holds up better, but is harder to fix. With MDF I
can easily smooth over any scratches or digs, then recoat it. I've got 1-1/2
MDF with hardwood edging, and its survived glue, oil, paint and pounding.
Gerry
On Sat, 21 May 2005 21:59:39 GMT, "klklimes" <[email protected]> wrote:
>This is a similar but more general question to one posted by Morris Dovey.
>I'm making a workbench with an MDF top. I'm a little concerned about
>eventually ruining it with drops of glue, oil, paint, etc.. Has anyone ever
>applied a coat of Polyurethane to the top of MDF? How did it turn out?
>
>Thanks for your help.
>
>Kevin
>
Thanks to all of you who eased my fears that a coat of Poly wouldn't make
MDF disintegrate. I'll definitely be giving it a try. No, not to keep the
benchtop looking pristine but to keep it smooth and give me a safe place to
park my cold beer (after the tools are locked up of course).
I appreciate all your help.
Kevin
"klklimes" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:fbOje.23786$796.12475@attbi_s21...
> This is a similar but more general question to one posted by Morris Dovey.
> I'm making a workbench with an MDF top. I'm a little concerned about
> eventually ruining it with drops of glue, oil, paint, etc.. Has anyone
> ever applied a coat of Polyurethane to the top of MDF? How did it turn
> out?
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Kevin
>
>
MDF is amenable to most finishes. Shellac, poly, paint, whatever. It
routs beautifully, to boot! Go for it.
Dave
klklimes wrote:
> This is a similar but more general question to one posted by Morris Dovey.
> I'm making a workbench with an MDF top. I'm a little concerned about
> eventually ruining it with drops of glue, oil, paint, etc.. Has anyone ever
> applied a coat of Polyurethane to the top of MDF? How did it turn out?
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Kevin
>
>
My workbench is MDF, covered with 1/4" masonite. When it gets covered
with too many globs of glue, I grab a scraper, knock them off, hit it
with a sander for a few moments, wipe on a coat of shellac, let that
dry, and then apply wax. Now I've got a semi water resistant, SMOOTH
work surface again. Total time: around 6-8 minutes. (I just refinish
the center section where all the glue mess occurs).
Dave
stoutman wrote:
> I have an MDF top workbench also. Lots of stain splotches and glue droplet
> stains. I wouldn't consider it ruined... after all, it's a "work bench"
>
> How does "drops of glue, oil, paint, etc" ruin a work bench? Does it double
> as a kitchen table for you?? :)
>
>
>
> "klklimes" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:fbOje.23786$796.12475@attbi_s21...
>
>>This is a similar but more general question to one posted by Morris Dovey.
>>I'm making a workbench with an MDF top. I'm a little concerned about
>>eventually ruining it with drops of glue, oil, paint, etc.. Has anyone
>>ever applied a coat of Polyurethane to the top of MDF? How did it turn
>>out?
>>
>>Thanks for your help.
>>
>>Kevin
>>
>>
>
>
>
klklimes wrote:
> This is a similar but more general question to one posted by Morris Dovey.
> I'm making a workbench with an MDF top. I'm a little concerned about
> eventually ruining it with drops of glue, oil, paint, etc.. Has anyone ever
> applied a coat of Polyurethane to the top of MDF? How did it turn out?
Why not consider a layer of 1/4" hardboard?
Lower cost, will last longer, simple to replace.
Lew
On Sun, 22 May 2005 00:56:07 GMT, "stoutman" <[email protected]> wrote:
>I have an MDF top workbench also. Lots of stain splotches and glue droplet
>stains. I wouldn't consider it ruined... after all, it's a "work bench"
I don't mind colour stains on a workbench, but I don't want raised drops
of glue.
MDF is a good workbench top. Coat of hard poly or floor varnish, then
definitely well-buffed wax to stop spilled glue from sticking. You
could even skip the varnish, but get that wax on there.
"stoutman" <[email protected]> writes:
> I have an MDF top workbench also. Lots of stain splotches and glue droplet
> stains. I wouldn't consider it ruined... after all, it's a "work bench"
>
> How does "drops of glue, [...]" ruin a work bench? Does it double
By making it uneven, and knocking them off may leave torn out holes,
which by becoming many will also be adverse to working on theat surface.
--
Dr. Juergen Hannappel http://lisa2.physik.uni-bonn.de/~hannappe
mailto:[email protected] Phone: +49 228 73 2447 FAX ... 7869
Physikalisches Institut der Uni Bonn Nussallee 12, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
CERN: Phone: +412276 76461 Fax: ..77930 Bat. 892-R-A13 CH-1211 Geneve 23