Shopsmith Forums

Just wondering if anyone has tried this combo? I have a utility type project so looks are not so importation but I do want to protect the surface so I started off with a coat and now that its dry it looks better then when it was wet but.....
I will put another coat on but I don't know how happy that will make me, and I'd like to more happy with the finish.

Ed

Looks like Danish Oil brings out the natural beauty of MDF

Ah yes - a blend of absorbent sawdust and binding agent(not quite so absorbent). I have seen better results on smaller pieces. I would just paint it if the second coat does not improve it!

Just keep putting in on and wiping it off. I use it all the time on my MDF shop fixtures. It takes awhile to dry in cool weather but it drys to a hard finish. Wet sand it and you will have a very smooth surface. After it gets worn it is real easy to apply more and sand to make it like new.

I made a radial arm saw table from MDF and coated with Tung, Walco, Or Linseed. I honestly can not remember but I think it was Tung oil.

I loving coated it many times and to me it looked beautiful. Loved it!

Then I sat a sweating glass of water on the table. Even after all those coats of oil the MDF swelled. Talk being happy! I talked to myself for at least week and even now 6 months later I still get lock jaw evertime I notice it.

The MDF was a perfect Radial Arm Saw table, the oil coating made it look like suede leather which I loved. But even though I carefully applied many coats of oil it still absorbed water.

If I had to do it over (which I will do in the near future) I will still use a least 5 coats of oil and then a coat of poly or two.

Second coat is helping. Shop is sub 50 degrees so it may be drying slower then I use to, since I don't normally use this finish in these temperatures.

Have to see how a third and maybe fourth do. Slow work since I'm doing both sides, as in do a side let it dry then do the other side. Was hoping to get by with just two coats but I guess that was wishful thinking.

Will cut to size and add then other features so I will have some scrap to play with to see how tough the finish is. Like I said it doesn't have to be great just would like it better then what it looked like with one coat.

JPW after it is done. Do not want to paint it. Just wish I had a local source for better quality MDF in small quantities.

Anyway thanks for the heads up on this process.

Ed

Wow! That makes it look like................MDF.

My mdf jigs just get JPW. They don't look any better. But, the grain shows.

So it does look better but now I feel I need to add the third coat, and maybe the forth. Getting a few places that have a shine, ie at the bottom of the photo which I'm guessing means that it is no longer absorbing into the material???
Ed

The third coat doesn't seem to be soaking in very well. Surface still looks a little splotchy but if no longer soaking in then I don't see a reason to even try a 4th coat.

Well I'll give it overnight then wipe it down and call it done. Hope to start working it on Friday, both to size and to put the holes in it. Should be almost 50 degrees and no rain so time to get it done.

Another learning experience.

Ed