Festool Surfix System

[Trevin]

Hi Guys,
I am building 2 office tables for our computer room at home. They are 75" x 30" x 1.75" made of cherry. I am to the point of finishing them and want to use the heavy duty Surfix oil sat the finish but would like to put about 5-7 coats of GF Arm r Seal semi-gloss over them for protection. Has anyone done this?  What were your results?  What else has anyone put over Surfix?  Since the will be tables that get a lot of use with computers, 3D printers, writing and a 6 year old doing whatever I want a good protection.

Thanks,
Trevin

 

[Svar]

I would use polyurethane for the described use.
Nothing is gained by applying Surfix and then covering it with Arm r seal. Just use the latter.
Also, avoid using laptop computers on solid wood tops for prolong periods. They heat up and dry a small area causing the wood or joints to split. Use laptop stand/cooler in such situations.

 

[Cheese]

...and a 6 year old doing whatever, I want a good protection.

In the case of the 6 year old...I'd suggest your only defense is a stainless cover. [big grin]  Surfix is a nice looking finish, but not a particularly durable one. I use it for outside teak furniture and a yearly reapplication is mandatory, for a new look...you can reapply it every 2 years if you want a weathered/used look.

 

[Trevin]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for your help. I applied the Surfix heavy-Duty oil and its looks great. I am still leaning to putting something over it for more protection. I was wondering if anyone had put something over the Surfix and what was the result. I may test a couple scraps that I applied the Surfix too to see what develops.
Thanks,
Trevin

 

[Gregor]

The HD oil is quite heavy duty, it'll protect the surface nicely.

Also leaving it at that will enable you to touch up any local defects that might develop without having to redo the whole piece (by giving that particular spot a light sanding and apply HD again).

 

[Poindexter]

I just sprayed over two walnut/padauk pieces I had finished with heavy duty Surfix because the scuffing was driving me nuts.  One piece is a desk where my MacBook's rubber feet would leave a scuff when sliding on the top.  The other is a lap board (I guess that's what it is called) that my aunt requested.  She likes to do her work in bed, and seeing how much is pushing through on my desk top I figured a coat of urethane would help her lap board too.

I love the look the Surfix system leaves on walnut, so I'm not too upset about the waste of spraying over it.  I used to finish walnut with tung oil, but it seems like the Surfix brings out a darker shade while exposing a bit more of the other colors in the grain.  Tung mostly is shades of brown.  Pretty, but not like the Surfix's finish.

My other Surfix finishes have been on lighter woods.  Those do not show any scuffs.  Even some dark ambrosia maple isn't showing marks when something is dragged across the dark gray grains.  I'm only having this issue on walnut.  The padauk parts of this same desk don't show scuffs.   

Photo included to show the walnut/paduak combo....also ash.

 

[Cheese]

I just sprayed over two walnut/padauk pieces

Photo included to show the walnut/paduak combo....also ash.

Just curious if you scuffed the walnut/paduak/ash surface before you sprayed the Surfix?  If so, with what grit?

Really nice looking table... [thumbs up]...did you make it?

 

[Poindexter]

Perhaps scuffing is the wrong word to use in a woodworking forum

The bottom of my laptop has 4 small rubber "feet" that would leave a marring mark each time I slid my laptop across the desk.  I'm not intentionally sliding the laptop across the desk, but do slide it into a more comfortable working position a few inches during use.  It was marring the Surfix'd finish. 

Thanks!  Yup, I made it out of some 4/4 slabs with domino joinery.

 

[Cheese]

Perhaps scuffing is the wrong word to use in a woodworking forum

I was referring to did you sand the wood surface prior to spot applying the Surfix and what paper grit did you use?

Again nice job on the table, I really like, and am struck by the whiteness of the ash.  [cool]

 

[Poindexter]

Perhaps scuffing is the wrong word to use in a woodworking forum

I was referring to did you sand the wood surface prior to spot applying the Surfix and what paper grit did you use?

Again nice job on the table, I really like, and am struck by the whiteness of the ash.  [cool]

Ooooooh.  Gotcha.  Well, yes, of course!  This desk got some extra attention due to some slight high spots after dominoing and epoxy needs due to a knot.  So, starting at 60 rubin on the RS2 up to 120 with a shift to granat 120 on the ETS 150/3 I think I stopped at 240 with the Surfix-supplied brilliant. 

On the lap board I went up to 320 doing all granat and the finish seems a little better.... only something the most discerning eye would notice though. 

 

[Poindexter]

No wife & kids = shop time, but a few too many cocktails = don't mess with crap  [scared] 

So I took a photo instead.

I happened to have a bunch of the same walnut that I've used on a few different projects.  Each of those projects have different finishes and I figured someone might benefit from seeing the differences all in one shot.

• Starting from the top is a cutting board made of walnut ends with sugar maple stripes.  That was finished with the basic butcher block finish one can find at a BORG.
• In the middle is raw walnut for reference.
• At the bottom is a "lap board" (I don't know what the heck to call it) made of walnut and padauk.  It is finished with heavy duty Surfix, then sprayed with General Finish clear urethane and polished with granat 800, 1000, 1200, then Festool polish.
• Laying on top of everything is a walnut picture frame finished with natural tung oil....not the BORG stuff.

 

[leakyroof]

I've put both oil based and water based finishes over Surfix. I apply the Surfix to get some color and a clear film over it for more protection.

 

[Trevin]

[member=10952]leakyroof[/member]
How long do you let the Surfix dry before putting on a topcoat?
Thanks,
Trevin

 

[leakyroof]

[member=10952]leakyroof[/member]
How long do you let the Surfix dry before putting on a topcoat?
Thanks,
Trevin

. 1-2 days for Oil Based finishes and ideally a bit longer if a Waterbased finish is going over the Surfix.