Can you apply a finish to MDF?

Slop some Watco on it, and then optionally wax it. Works great.

Poly works well. Does not look any prettier, but it does offer protection.

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

MDF is amenable to most finishes. Shellac, poly, paint, whatever. It routs beautifully, to boot! Go for it.

Dave

klklimes wrote:

Gotta agree with using the Watco - that really pops the grain.......;-)

Bob S.

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?? :)

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:

Why not consider a layer of 1/4" hardboard?

Lower cost, will last longer, simple to replace.

Lew

MDF accepts paint very well.

I use an epoxy product Rustoleum Industrial Mastic 9100 series to paint all my MDF shop "furniture".

Hard durable no stick finish

Bob

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 edg>This is a similar but more general question to one posted by Morris Dovey.

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.

It's a sin to stain it.

The MDF should be allowed to darken naturally in the sun, or fumed.

Barry

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.

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