Making MDF Entertainment Center on the Shopbot...

[Brian H.]

Hey Botters...

I've been thinking about those impressive entertainment centers that I used to see here, back a few... well, several, years. I'm not a cabinetmaker, so I was impressed by finding out MDF was used for the construction. The impression I have of MDF is that after carving, the end product is a little soft. BUT... it's now my understanding that it's a false assumption.

So now I find myself in a, um, 'situation'. My ex got the furniture and I got the tools. The extra money... well, let's not go there.

But I do have my Shopbot!!!! ...and I'm thinking about what I can do with it to remedy my 'situation'. In fact, I bet with a little knowledge and creativity that old furniture will seem... well, old! I'm back to ask the experts.

If I use MDF for construction, the cost should be reasonable. But what about finishing the MDF to look impressive. Where do I go to learn about that? Is there some kind of coating that makes the MDF hard? Any little tips would be appreciated!!!!

[kevin]

Just paint and imagination

[kevin]

wrong picture

[adrianm]

MDF is great, I use it for pretty much everything.

Everyone has their favourite methods for finishing but I tend to use 2 - 3 coats of spirit based sanding sealer sanding between each coat with 240 grade paper.

Not sure what it's like in the US but in the UK the green (moisture resistant) MDF tends to be of much higher quality than the brown stuff.

[michael_schwartz]

these links will give you about 100 different ways to prep and finish MDF

http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Priming_MDF_RaisedPanel_Doors.html

http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Priming_MDF_Edges_for_Finishing.html

http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Finishing_MDF.html

http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Priming_MDF_Edges_for_Finishing.html

Personally I have just sanded, and sealed with shellac or glue size but I don't work with much MDF.

[steve_g]

Brian:
MDF from my supplier (HD) can be very unpredictable in quality/density. Some sheets will hold detail very well, while the next sheet in the stack will delaminate. While I haven’t tried it for cabinets/furniture, Sculpt Nouveau metal coatings make my creations almost bullet proof! The acrylic based product is even hard to sand off unintended areas of coverage.

I’m curious, has anyone out there tried Sculpt Nouveau on MDF cabinet doors?

Steve

[adrianm]

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showpost.php?p=74323&postcount=6

[Brian H.]

...Danny Ray was the guy I was referring to. I remember his stuff from 4-5 years ago.

Thanks for the replies!!!! I'm excited to find a decent local supplier for some of the sealers mentioned in the woodweb articles, like clawlock or a few others. What Danny said about a "surfboard-like finish" sounds great. The glue sizing and shellac sound easy and inexpensive, but I wonder if they'll produce the kind of finish possible with the other sealers. I just moved to St. Cloud, MN, so it's time to look for local suppliers. That might determine which I try first.

Thanks again!!!!!

[woodworx]

This was one I did a few years ago, that was completely made from MDF and Poplar trim moulding.11640

[benchmench]

This one at the bottom of the page: http://www.shopbottools.com/mProducts/ecabinets.htm is also all MDF on the exterior panels and doors (all made on the Shopbot). The cabinet interiors are black melamine particle board.

This was completely designed in eCabinets but cut in Cabinet Parts Pro since the Shopbot Link wasn't yet available. Having the Link makes life much easier!

MDF typically doesn't hold door hinge screws very well, so you may have to use a plastic insert or a 5mm system screw (http://www.nwchardware.com/5mm_System_Screws_p/es5mm.htm) made for this purpose.