You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Any suggestions for what to treat a new MDF worktop with? The wood stain/oil I used last time wasn't any good, either at keeping stains out or stopping water from penetrating.
I wouldn't have thought that varnish would be ideal as it might chip?
Natural/no colour preferred, any thoughts?
3mm rubber sheet, alu trim round the edges.
Varnish the MDF then cheap laminate flooring. It's been built proof and cleans up like new with a wipe
A sacrificial top layer of ply, rubber sheet, sheet steel, laminate flooring
What are you actually using the worktop for?
Its only MDF so you anything you paint on it won't be much tougher than the MDF that supports it - things like varnish will chip / scrape off because its only MDF its trying to grip.
Hardwax (such as OSMO) would probably work to seal things effectively - soaking in a bit and hardening and consolidating the fibres a bit rather than sitting on the surface like varnish. It won't be chip as its not really on the surface to be chipped off and should keep most stains at bay if that matters. Depends on what your worktop is getting stained by
Whatever you use coat the top and bottom surfaces otherwise being able to absorbed on one side will cause it to warp.
A sacrificial top layer of ply, rubber sheet, sheet steel, laminate flooring
Anything on that list is more expensive than the MDF - why sacrifice ply to protect MDF? I'd use MDF to protect ply 🙂
Personally anything you coat / cover the MDF with just makes it slippery. Unless your garage is pretty damp I would just leave it untreated - its a better surface to work on. Why are you worried it it gets stained - are you expecting guests?
Next time us MR-MDF 🙂
Most things in that list are more suited to being a garage worktop tbh.
It maybe too late - but mdf isn’t the ideal top for a garage side if you’re likely to be using it for diy on.
I made a large bench up from a 2nd hand fire door I picked up from gumtree or fb classifieds. Just used cheap 63mmx38mm stud timber to hold up the fire door. Really sturdy and it’s a very hard surface as the door is solid.
Yeah MDF isn't the best material but it's cheap and strong enough now I've put down a 18mm layer. It's not togght but it's plenty strong and stiff. All in, it's about a 5 metre length.
I'm only using it as a general dumping ground and worktop, charging bike lights. I could well just leave it raw.
About 7 years ago I did a similar worktop in my old house and was annoyed as I put a big stain on it after only weeks of use. Also I only used 12mm. It was fine but fancied stiffer this time.
Sanding sealer is pretty good for MDF. Soaks in well and ends up quite tough. It's designed as a base layer but a few coats and you get a nice, natural finish.
Don’t worry about it. If it starts to offend you in the future stick a layer of something else on top.
You could try some kind of epoxy coating?
I use a layer of 3mm hardboard. A full sheet is about a tenner and enough to cover my bench twice. I did some edging all around to hold it in place then a nail in each corner just to be sure.
To be honest I tend to just leave it pretty beaten up and just put a bit of fresh MDF down on top if I need a clean/flat/smooth surface for something.
Bookmatched English walnut organic artisan veneer...or varnish.