Tough high gloss finish ??

Question

The missus wants me to build her a counter for her latest enterprise. It's going to have a smooth curve as part of its form, and I was figuring that the easiest way to do that, would be to face the frame with bendy MDF. The counter top will obviously follow the curve of the main counter body, and I was reckoning on using perhaps 18mm MDF for that. Now she doesn't want a square edge facing the customers, which is not a problem, as I can put a profile on it by running the router round it. Now comes the tricky bit. How to put a finish on it that is attractive, and durable. The main counter body is not so much of a problem. Because it only curves in one plane, I have options such as laminating plastic sheet or machined stainless or whatever to it. But the counter top, which is probably going to need to be black, is another thing altogether, because with the profiled edge, it will curve in two planes, which precludes being able to use a flat laminating material of any description.

So, does anyone have any experience of producing a DIY high gloss hard finish on MDF for a reasonable price ? I don't mind having to do it in several stages with flatting back in between to get a sealed good smooth finish, but whatever I use has got to be hard and durable to stand up to being leaned on by customers, and be readily cleanable. Is there some kind of plastic finish paint or epoxy based paint or whatever that could be used for this ? Spray paint of some description maybe ? Or a spray or hand finished hard lacquer finish ? Or any other suggestions ? I'm open to ideas, and have got a few weeks in hand to think about it.

Cheers all

Arfa

Frank Erskine · Accepted Answer

You could try ebonising it, but I've no idea how well that might workon MDF.Experiment!

Steve Firth · Answer

[snip]I don't like MDF for this sort of use. It isn't good when wet and thesurface has residues of release agent that make paint finishes likely topeel off, although there are primers sold specifically for MDF.I've achieved good durable finishes on WBP plywood in the past by flowcoating with slow set epoxy then finishing with real yacht varnish - twopack International Crystal polyurethane either sprayed or applied with afoam brush.It's also possible to get two pack polyurethane paint in a range of coloursincluding black. It's a good durable finish.

Owain · Answer

What about a heat-formable sheet like Corian or Marlan?Owain

Andy Dingley · Answer

Prime, black paint, Rustin's Bar Top clear finish (acid cure pre-mixformaldehyde resin) over the top. Shiny, indestructible.

Arfa Daily · Answer

Ah ... yes ! Some years back we owned a Victorian school building, and it had a central hall with a lovely parquet floor that had been left to get into a state of disrepair. I sanded that back, and then treated it with a two part pre-mix resin 'lacquer' called Clarkes, I think it was. Came in a gallon can and had a little plastic bottle of hardener with it. Like you are suggesting, it dried to a very high gloss, and was, as you say, indestructible. Time for a bit of research on this Rustin's Bar Top. Sounds like similar stuff, and potentially, just the ticket. Thanks Andy, and to the others so far that have also made useful suggestions. All appreciated :-)

Arfa

Arfa Daily · Answer

Hi Owain. Someone else mentioned Corian to me. I have now looked into this material, and it seems that it *is* manufactured in sheets, and is able to be worked with standard wood tools - that's saws, routers etc. So. Questions. Have you ever worked with the stuff ? Any known good sources for it in sheet form ? ( I drew a bit of a blank looking for a 'raw material' supplier). And is it expensive ?

Arfa

Owain · Answer

I haven't used it myself. But it seems a likely alternative to getting something machined out of a solid block of something.

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be helpful. They mention that they can do small batches in bespoke colours so might be willing to do small supplies.

Owain

Tough high gloss finish ??

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