MDF you can eat off of

[automizer]

I have a project of MDF and I am after a full water proof seal something non-toxic after drying, its a counter that will be used in a very wet environment. By the time im done I would like to be able to put it at the bottom of a pool pull it out and eat dinner off it all the while it not changing in any way shape or form. Being able to add colour to it as well would be nice. Any ideas? I was lookign at an epoxy and maybe a plastic paint but that can chip off if hit.

[echnidna]

mdf is not suited to that level of wet
years ago I experimented with various ways of treating it to make it truly waterproof. I also tried hdf unsuccessfully.

Use plastic.

[automizer]

Plastic is an idea also but it scratches and can end up looking bad over time I am only familar with acrilycs. What plastics would you recomend? I should also mention that this will have moderate to hevey trafic on it so it need to be durable

[scooter]

Corian or another solid surface could be the go, reasonably scratch resistant I think. Pretty dear though.

There will be engineering plastics out there that may fit your bill also.


Good luck......................cheers.................Sean

[Trav]

Look at the manufactured stones like ceasarstone (http://www.caesarstone.com.au/) or rock solid granit (http://www.rocksolidgranit.com/). Yes, I know granit is spelled wrong.

Trav

[Paul B]

Take one sheet of mdf, throw it in a dumpster.

Seriously, it sounds like you want to find something purpose made for those conditions rather than trying to make something work, that won't. If mdf would work dimensionally, then maybe you should check out some marine ply. Same dimensions, but made to be immersed, looks a lot better than mdf too, you could even put a solid edge on it. A decent 2 part poly finish should do it.

[Tex B]

Atom,

I can't figure out why you'd want to put it in the bottom of a pool, then pull it out to eat off of. Bit extreme, even for Canada ;) . does it have to be chlorine resistant?

There are plenty of reasonably long lasting kitchen counters made from various timbers with appropriate finishes, if that was the question. Most 'wet environment' counters I've seen are stainless steel (butchers, fish shops, etc).

Tex

[Harry72]

Dont know about you's, but if you soak it in polyester or epoxy resin it makes it water proof. Give the smooth surface a sand to open it.

Echnidna what methods did you try? I've made sub boxes and speaker pods for cars using a combination of fibreglass and MDF, then measuring the actual volume by filling it with water with no problems... even left them overnight

[echnidna]

I was making deckle boards for hand made paper making.
Tried resins etc. They worked for a few days but after a month of constant immersion had problems.

[Harry72]

Did you rough the surface so it will soak in?

[echnidna]

don't remember but even if I didn't it shouldn't matter.
a simple test on mdf porosity
clean the surface, hold it to your mouth and suck.
you can't maintain any vaccuum as air leaks straight through the stuff.

Its difficult to seal it well enough to use as a vaccuum table. Takes many layers of poly to seal it adequately.

To seal it truly waterproof means totally filling all voids in the stuff.

[Harry72]

Well mdf this side of the border must be better!

[automizer]

Thank you for all your help, see the thing about the pool and all is its going to get wet and the pool was just a way of saying I want it water tight, it will be a counter of sorts but in the middle of it will be a 7inch deep dish or bowl if you will so I was after MDF for it being easy to shap glue together and form, but I wanted a liquid sealer to go over top to conform to the dish, so maybe looking for another material is going to have to be the answer.

[Trav]

I think corian would be great - but expensive. You can even get the counter and dish made from the same piece. Neat. Perhaps talk to a kitchen manufacturer.

Trav

[automizer]

I am not familiar with corian is it solid? or is it a partical board with a material on top?

[Trav]

Ask and all shall be revealed my friend.

check out www.corian.com.au

It is a solid substance - kind of a cross between a stone and plastic. Well, more plastic, but it is hard. It is commonly used for kitchen benchtops and vanity sinks etc as you can form it into a stack of shapes and even get built in sinks etc. Very cool. But expensive.

Trav

[automizer]

Thank you that seems to be exactly what I need, now though the web site dose not show retailers in Canada. Dose any one know of a Canadian suplier hopefully in Vancouver?

[coastie]

If you have a Du Pont Office or warehouse near you they will point you in the right direction.It's a product of theirs.Head Office is in Wilmington,Delaware.

[scooter]

As mentioned somewhere else, most of the laminate makers like Formica, Wilsonart, etc make some form of solid surface benchtop.

Try a local kitchen maker for options.


Cheers................Sean

[djevans]

Try Aristocrat it is ok for a small area if you have a large area it will work but cost alot of money.
Last time I got some was about 5 yares ago from Murray and Tina Mahaffey in QLD 0754865361.
The finnish is like glass.
David

[Dion N]

Corian or another solid surface could be the go, reasonably scratch resistant I think. Pretty dear though.

There will be engineering plastics out there that may fit your bill also.


Good luck......................cheers.................Sean

The Chief Designer and I were discussing benchtops in her Dad's shed (he's a cabinet maker). Corian is not very scratch resistant at all as he quickly demonstrated. Laminates are actually more resistant to scratching. You can , however, sandback Corian and other engineered materials.

Her dad works for a company that does nothing but insurance repairs for kitchens and bathrooms and so he sees water damaged cabinets and shelves day in and day out. He personally detests MDF in any form and thinks it ought not be sold! I am not saying that you cannot waterproof MDF to the level you require, but it would be a very difficult task and probably not worth the effort, given that there are other products out there.

For a waterproof surface molded into various forms, you could try concrete!

[Ruben]

You can Also Use Starboard. It is incredibly Strong dont Scratch and they use it in the Marine Trade. http://www.kingstarboard.com/Products/starboard.aspx

Ruben