wouldwurker Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 Remember this nightmare? From April? I vowed to not start anything new until I get all unfinished projects out of my shop. So here I am, back to the MDF nightmare. If you recall , the 'designers' doing my living room said they wanted this: 4.5 inches thick, 80 inches long, and 3 feet high....and no center supports or stretchers. Not practical or cost efficient to use that much lumber, and the forum consensus was to build 3 separate torsion boxes. So I was underway. I added the ruler for sense of scale. Lots of wood putty, CA glue, sanding, mdf dust, misery, sanding, dust, hand planing, misery, dust. Seams to fill, nail gun pops to fill, countersunk particle board screw holes to fill, sand, fill, sand, seal, sand, glue, sand, cough. This table wasn't meant for this world. Anyway, more sanding and filling. After all this work, I can't have a single visible flaw. Almost prepped for 50/50 titebond and water staging. Then some oil-primer. I can't wait to get this monstrosity out of my shop! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 I feel your pain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 Looking good, but what is to keep it upright in a gentle breeze? Awfully skinny for its height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted September 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 Mostly mass and gravity. It's 10 inches deep too, and heavy and all heck. I stood on it and rocked and couldn't tip it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 With the proper prep like you are doing that. %#€£^* stuff does paint well. I built something similar once and filled the void in the lower third of the legs with all the MDF scraps that would fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted September 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 8x40 dominos for a little extra ummph to attach the legs to the top. The other side 'male' end shown will be screwed into the legs. I'll also have a thin steel plate on the back hidden side, screwed into both top and legs . Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted September 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 Slathered on the glue sizing (equal parts water and titebond) on one of the legs last night. Dried clean, and feels pretty coarse. I'll hit it with some light sanding tonight and get it ready for oil-based primer. It felt so counterintuitive to brush on a water solution to the MDF , but from the sound it, this is a tried and true method. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted September 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 Need some guidance on sanding after the glue sizing treatment, as I don't want to sand off the coating. I had it down to 220 before I sized it and it was baby butt smooth. It's pretty rough now...feels like sandpaper actually. Am I getting it super smooth again, or just giving it a light once over before the primer goes on? Thanks. Really Appreciate the help...first time trying this. VJ Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 What finish are you putting on it? I'm sure that a light sanding with 180 or 220 isn't going to take all that off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted September 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 Oil based primer, followed by non-water based paint, followed by polyacrylic. Thanks man Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 I think you should be fine with a light sanding 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 You are mostly trying to seal the deeper layers and edges so with 220 grit you have quite a bit of leeway. Just be careful near corners and edges. You can sand the major flat areas until they are very smooth with little chance of harm. It's when you get near edges and corners that a moment of carelessness can be harmful. This level of caution applies to sanding between coats of sanding sealer over stain as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted September 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 Just wrapped up. Feels like glass. Thanks guys Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted September 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 Had to break down and buy 48" clamps...ugh Why are clamps so darn expensive!?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wtnhighlander Posted September 15, 2014 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 Had to break down and buy 48" clamps...ugh Why are clamps so darn expensive!?! Because you need them..... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted September 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 ...and the other leg I've been shimmying around this thing for weeks - I want it out of my shop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted September 22, 2014 Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 It's like an ex-wife, some things just never go away. But, it is looking good! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post RichardA Posted September 22, 2014 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 It's like an ex-wife, some things just never go away. But, it is looking good! Please... no ex wife comments.....I have more of them than I have clamps! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted January 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 This thing again.... Two coats of oil based primer applied (thanks pop!) and ready for the oil based paint. Now, I don't have a sprayer....just using a super smooth roller, and sanded between coats with one of those spongey sanding blocks . Possibly too rough? I still have a bit of an eggshell look now with my primer applied ....not nearly as smooth as I started after glue sizing and sanding. Do I sand between coats of paint? If so, what should I use? Is my Festool half-sheet finish sander appropriate or overkill? Paint by the way is 'sealskin'....an almost black gray that will be pretty forgiving. By the way, I will be applying a poly topcoat as well. Lastly....the bottoms of the 'feet' are still unfinished. I was thinking of just hitting it with 205 epoxy and a coat of paint after the poly has hardened.... It's too big and too heavy to flip and I'm afraid gravity will dent and knick it if i try to paint the bottoms while it's still soft. Good/bad idea? (The paint does go all the way down btw...It's up on a MDF 'riser' in that photo for painting) Thanks as always. This monster is that much closer to being out of my shop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 I would flip it onto a packing blanket soon and seal up the bottom quick. That way you can touch up any nicks in the paint before you use the topcoat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted January 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 Thanks Steve. Primer or epoxy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 If you have the epoxy use that. I would use some sort of feet , however thin or whatever just so if liquid gets spilled it can't soak into the bottom of the legs. Being able to level it could be useful if the floor is out of level and it rocks when you get it in place. Sinking into carpet can make a heavy piece wobbly, but 4 feet on each leg will be stable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted January 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 Feet epoxy'ed last night, and first coat of oil based paint applied tonight (Sealskin). I included a can of soup for sense of scale of this monster. (Toybox in the back getting a topcoat) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 Was beginning to wonder if you were going to finish that thing Certainly a lot bigger than I thought tho! Nice job Vinny! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 Wow, that thing is gonna be fun to move even with 2 men. Looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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