Finish for MDF Top - Outfeed / Assembly Table

[Arry]

Hi

Spent this weekend making a large Outfeed / Assembly table out of plywood as seen here:

How to Make a Tablesaw Outfeed Table | The Wood Whisperer

Instead of plywood for the top I used 16mm MDF as it is flatter.

IAs it is just shop furniture I just want a cheap way of finishing the MDF and plywood.

Any suggestions?

[Arry]

no one (

[Master Splinter]

Whatever cheap varnish you have handy. Or just leave it unfinished, it won't hurt unless you intend to get it wet!

[jchappo]

Danish Oil.
I prefer Rustins as it is very thin and soaks into the end grain easily and dries fairly quickly.
For a sliding surface, like a router table top, I rub down with steel wool and wax when fully cured.

[metester]

I agree with Jchappo. I recently made a table top for the workshop out of MDF and waxed it with Canauba Wax applying three coats. It dries nice and hard and provides a smooth working surface particularly if you need one that nice and slippery for passing stock over. Another advantage is that you can give it a light sand/buff and apply another coat or two as it wears.

[Arry]

Cheers guys

[auscab]

I agree with Jchappo. I recently made a table top for the workshop out of MDF and waxed it with Canauba Wax applying three coats. It dries nice and hard and provides a smooth working surface particularly if you need one that nice and slippery for passing stock over. Another advantage is that you can give it a light sand/buff and apply another coat or two as it wears.

metester ,
when you say Canauba Wax, is this a wax soloution high in Canauba ? or how are you getting the Canauba on ?
I have seen it as a solid , and flakes, but not in mixed form

cheers Rob

[metester]

Hi Rob. I used this from Feastwatson and applied it with a clean rag. It is solid in the can however, you can rub the cloth into it and then apply it to the workpiece.

[auscab]

Thanks, I will keep an eye out for it so I can try it out.

Rob