Results of sealing an MFT top?

B

BillG

Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2011
Messages
93
Greetings all

I have been reading here for a while now, but this is my first post.  I recently acquired an MFT3 for my shop.  In moving stuff around (i.e. shoehorning it all into place) I have come to the conclusion that the best spot for it for the foreseeable future is next to my big lathe.  I am somewhat concerned about moisture, since I turn a lot of very wet wood.  I searched the board here and found a couple of threads on sealing the top of the MFT, but no comments on how it actually worked out in use.  I would hate to seal it all up only to discover it was a real bad idea, worse than it getting a little wet from time to time.  Has anyone here sealed up their table and used it for a while now?  Did you experience any other effects than the expected one of preventing moisture damage?  Would you do it again? 

Thanks. 

mftandlathe.jpg
 
First:    [welcome]

Could you just get a small tarp and throw that over the MFT?  Seems to me that's a much simpler (and cheap!) solution than sealing the top.

If you do decide to seal it, you must use oil-based finishes.  Water based would cause the MDF to swell.  A simple wipe-on polyurethane finish might be sufficient.  But be aware, getting any finish buildup (or worse, runs!) in the MFT holes may cause them to bind on MFT accesories.  I.e. my Qwas dogs are a TIGHT fit.  If I got a finish drop, I wouldn't be able to remove them.
 
Thanks.  A tarp did not occur to me.  I can just use the drop cloth I already have in the shop.  One of my concerns was getting goop in the holes.  Yeah, I know about water based finish and swelling too.  I have been running a woodworking business for 19 years now, and have learned all sorts of things the hard way.  ;D
 
Some people put a wash coat of shellac on it. That's probably the easiest way to seal it and it won't gum up the holes either.
 
I trashed an MFT top through turning wet wood in the vicinity.  I had plastic over the top but it snuck under.  I have since shellaced the top which slows moisture absorbtion but doesn't entirely stop it from occuring.  You are correct to be cautious.
 
Welcome BillG.  [big grin] Pull up a chair and have a drink of GREEN cool-aid. One sip and you will be hooked.
 
[welcome] [welcome]

My thoughts - don't treat the top. You can always buy new tops or make your own if you can address the accuracy needed.

If you absolutely must - as mentioned - something like shellac is best.

From a different perspective, I would personally want to avoid spraying moisture generally, not just the MFT surface. Can't you shroud the lathe in some way?

Kev

 
Festoolfootstool said:
Welcome to the fog billg

Nice looking lathe..
Click to expand...

Thanks.  It makes Festool stuff look inexpensive by comparison.  But it is the main tool in my shop. 
 
Kev said:
[welcome] [welcome]

My thoughts - don't treat the top. You can always buy new tops or make your own if you can address the accuracy needed.

If you absolutely must - as mentioned - something like shellac is best.

From a different perspective, I would personally want to avoid spraying moisture generally, not just the MFT surface. Can't you shroud the lathe in some way?

Kev

I've been spraying stuff around the shop for most of the years I have been in business.  But shrouding the lathe would be tough, as I am often teaching with it, and I need access all around while it is being used. 
Click to expand...
 
id cover it or fold it up and put it to one side.
sealing could cause problems . you might make the surface too slipery to work on or clamp things to
 
Hi Bill,

Welcome to the FOG!  [smile]

I was just thinking what Alan said. Maybe just move it aside or move and cover it?

Seth
 
I'm surprised someone could ruin a top with some wet wood, I have had several drinks spill on mine with no lasting effects. Came back from lunch last week and saw that the painters had used one as a convenient place to sit their snow cooled Cokes while eating lunch, with a bunch of snow and drink rings still there an hour later.  Wiped it down, just another stain.  You can always hit it with a sander if it gets too bad.

Thought about sealing mine with shellac but worried it might warp the top if you didn't get both sides. Then I put a couple dozen kerfs in it and stopped worrying.
 
Alan m said:
id cover it or fold it up and put it to one side.
sealing could cause problems . you might make the surface too slipery to work on or clamp things to
Click to expand...

Shellac definitely makes the top a bit more slippery, but not so that it is a detriment to working. I've not experienced any issues with clamping difficutlies.  I actually like the affect on the ability to slide pieces.

I agree with with suggestion to move the MFT when using the lathe.  Its amazing how much sap is thrown off when wet turning - it soaks not sprinkles.
 
I've been caught out in the rain with mine twice. I was playing with fire trying to get things done and that overcast sky became a full downpour. MFT was always the last item I got indoors. Wiped it down and no issues so far.  I like the wax idea of all of them. If I were to used a sanding sealer I would give it a light sanding after it dried to increase the friction on the work piece.
 
Thanks everyone for all the responses and welcome.  I had a class yesterday, and just threw my shop drop cloth over it.  That seemed to do just fine.  I have been using Festool tools for a number of years now, since about 2003.  I am expanding my inventory as opportunity permits.  The lathe is my primary tool in the shop, but I do enough flat work that it is worth having good tools to do it. 
 
You guys with the pristine MFT tops are damaging to my psyche [scared]

If it is set up outside and it rains, it gets wet. If it rains really hard, it gets really wet. If inside was an option under a cloudy sky it was an option under a sunny sky.

If I happen to have my sander out, I sand it. The only place it really gets 'the swells' is near cuts so I sand them back down, no big deal.

If I happen to spill stain on it, I wipe up the stain. What don't come up, don't come up adding to its 'professional patina'

If I happen to be using shellac or poly, since I don't ever return anything back to the can, I just use what would be 'waste' on the top.

Remember it is a WORKTOP, not a china cabinet!
 
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