MFT/3 table top finishing

[Slowtee]

Just received my MFT/3 and was wondering should I clear coat the mdf table top to protect from humidity. Also what would be the recommended top coat?
Tony

 

[ProCarpenterRVA]

I've clear coated one top I made from mdf. I used General finishes high performance top coat in Satin. It's held up really well. When I flipped over the top on my mft I had a bit of a can of Osmo Polyxx Oil left over so I coated it with that. The good thing is that it added a sort of grippy feel to it. The bad is that it gets down in the dog holes and if you don't ream those babies out with a dog the day after you coat it, it will be hard to get dogs in some of the holes.

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[Claimdude]

I used shellac on my MFT tops. Durable and easy to repair. Din't mess up the dog holes either (sprayed).

Jack

 

[Sparktrician]

One thing to remember when coating the MFT tops is to coat both sides to prevent differential absorption of humidity resulting in a warped top. 

 

[elliottandnolan]

I've found OSMO Poly x oil to be very effective, I like the way it soaks into the surface rather than on top like varnish etc.

 

[jamanjeval]

Another vote for the Osmo polyx (but not a vote against anything else)

I coated mine when I noticed that simply touching sweaty forearms on the mft top raised the surface a bit. The osmo makes a nice surface to work on that isn’t too slick. I removed my top and coated both sides, the edges and the holes. I didn’t find it adversely affected the fit of the dogs, ymmv.

imho, Festool should ship it pre-finished with osmo.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

I just used paste wax on mine.