Finish for chipboard

[ajax]

Guys,

I will soon finish with my workbench. The benchtop is 2 x 19mm chipboard glued together. I have varnished (cabothane) the underside.

It will be used as a router table as well (on one end of the workbnech there will be an insert plate).

My question is re what finish I can use for the top to get a hard smooth finish suitable for router table. (I could use plastic laminate and cement it to the top) but looking for a finishing alternative.

Thanks in advance.

[Eastie]

One method.
A couple of coats of U-Beaut hard shellac, rubbed back with eee to finish. Leaves a very smooth surface for the router table. Get some masonite or a piece of carpet big enough to cover the router table area when not in use to prevent damage.

[ajax]

Thanks Eastie.

One question. Can the Hard shellac be replaced with poly. varnish ?? Just I have lots of it still, may have to buy Hard Shelloc.

cheers

[Eastie]

With careful application.
Also consider an initial coat of sanding sealer or grain filler (sounds stupid on chipboard I know )

Give it a light sand between each coat using a flat sanding block, but I'd still use something like eee to finish. This will help prevent timber catching or temporarily binding.

My current router table is made out of HDF, similar to chipboard, and it works well (eee over hard shellac over grain filler).

Good luck with it.