Thread: Workbench advice please

Any experience with polyurethane (i.e. Estapol) as an MDF finish?

You can estapol MDF successfully

What about putting a sheet of masonite on the top? - hard and long wearing!

I just used a couple of pieces of brushbox flooring for my vice inserts, simply trimmed off the tongue and cut them about 60 mm longer then the vice.

Originally Posted by Heuston

Any experience with polyurethane (i.e. Estapol) as an MDF finish?

It needs to be sealed as the wax used in the surface of the MDF can retard the drying of the single pack polyurethane (Estapol). Either a sanding sealer but thinned shellac is better.

Heuston.
If you are making dog holes in the jaw liner then it will de quite thick and therefore has the strength to be quite a bit longer than the metal jaws. I like at least 12'' or 300mm. You need this much if you intend to plane bits held in the vice. As for diagonal trim at the ends that is personal choice but helps stop clothes catching on the corners. I regret not making dog holes in my bench so perhaps time for a retro fit. When you fit the vice jaw insert you need a bit of toe in at the top. The top edge needs to close first. As pressure is applied then the two surfaces close up together. If you make the two surfaces parralell with no pressure then as you tighten up the top edge opens a bit.
As for MDF it will need some coating to keep moisture out. Anything as long as it is not water based. My first pic would be floor coating estapol or similar. Good opertunity to use up leftovers.
Regards
John