Fxguy Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 I'll admit that I haven't gotten past the sanding stage for most projects. Until now I haven't had descent tools to produce good results, but now that I have I must tackle finishing. So I'd like to ask in general, what finish / how do you finish different jigs that you have built? Currently I have a Router Fence made out of Maple that needs to be finished as well as a larger table for my bandsaw thats built out of MDF. Could someone help me figure out how to finish these? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 Some of the folks here have me using Arm-R-Seal and if it sits still long enough in my shop, I put it on everything! That or catsup 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikem Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 except for maybe some paste wax to help jigs slide easier, I never put any finish on them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4-Square Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 My firm suggestion is to use each shop jig, piece of shop furniture, tool rack, etc as a place to experiment and learn different finishing systems. After all, if you screw the pooch, who cares?? Want to learn to spray conv varnish, makes a great durable fence finish... Want to learn wipe-on polys, a cherry chisel rack is perfect, etc, etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 For the most part, 4-Square is correct. The only exception might be on a fence where you want things to slide nicely. In that case, I use paste wax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 I sometimes just use shellac. Othertimes it's whatever finish I have left over from other projects. Some of the time I just don't bother with finish on jigs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 I just use up finish that is getting old or not finish at all if the jig will not see heavy use. You can extend the life of an MDF jigs edges by wiping it with glue and sanding after it's dry. This hardens the edge quite a bit. Epoxy works even better if the edge will get a lot of wear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fxguy Posted September 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 Thanks for the advice guys, So for something like MDF, which I used as the base for the table, what could I do to put a finish on it that will let wood slide across it pretty smoothly? Right now with it dry, it slides, but not very nice. Same question for a maple fence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 I would be tempted to put a film finish of some sort on it and then wax it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 Make that a HARD film finish. Don't try using leftover outdoor finishes like spar varnish, they stay sort of soft and flexible. Good for stuff that needs to expand and contract with changes in weather, not so good for jigs that slide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Tarbell Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 i used MDF for the base of my crosscut sled and the base of my splined miter jig. On one i applied a couple coats of wipe-on poly. It soaked the coats up immediately, but feels the same as the uncoated one. Both slide great on the cast iron top. I'm not so sure it was worth coating the first jig, but perhaps time will prove otherwise. I'd say to experiment and try whatever you have on hand - if it doesn't work well then you can just hit it with the sander. Just remember.. if you coat one side, you have to coat the other side or humidity will be more likely to cause it to warp. One more tidbit is that I've heard several suggestions to not put too much finish on the top of the jig as this can make it harder to keep the workpiece from sliding during a cut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4-Square Posted September 6, 2014 Report Share Posted September 6, 2014 <only exception might be on a fence where you want things to slide nicely. In that case, I use paste wax> I still experiment with different finishing systems, but add wax over the finish as needed. I also use shop furniture, jigs, etc to experiment with toning, glazing, etc... For a while, my shop fixtures looked like some sort of Richthofen's flying circus... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bombarde16 Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 A little color never hurts and I often hit shop furniture with leftover house paint. Certainly makes them easier to find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4-Square Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 Certain logic in that... I certainly know where the stationary tools are, and FT green is pretty easy... Maybe I should go blaze-orange for jigs -- scratch that, I'll go blaze-orange for the tape measure and maybe safety-yellow for the jigs... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 I am curious how blaze orange is leftover house paint? Syracuse fan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4-Square Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 Friend of mine has a 300m range in his back yard. Helped him paint the 50, 100, 200 & 300m pit markers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2nd floor Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 Bright colors are the ones I can never find, as wife and kids know them too well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eveready Posted October 11, 2014 Report Share Posted October 11, 2014 I am actually in the process of building myself a router table, adjustable fence and some other jigs specific to the project they will be used for... I'm going with MDF for its stability and covering it in melamine so my routers can slide cleanly across the surface. A little finishing wax treatment and you're off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CessnaPilotBarry Posted October 12, 2014 Report Share Posted October 12, 2014 I typically apply no finish at all to jigs and fixtures. Often, I want a grippy surface, so the stock stays in position while I work on it, and films are slippery. Things like sled floors, stop blocks, shooting boards, bench hooks... are BAD when slippery. I never understood why people waxed drill press tables, either... I also tend to build jigs as needed, so I'm not waiting for no steenkin' finish to dry... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Mosher Posted October 12, 2014 Report Share Posted October 12, 2014 Just use paraffin wax on the metal surfaces of your tools, makes everything slide easily and prevents rust as well. It can't hurt to practice finishing if you're a beginner and jigs are a good place to do it. plus you can see how well the finish holds up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jHop Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 I've used pencil as a finish. (Here's where I start, there's where I'm supposed to stop, there's where I blame the tool for going to far, and there's the mark where I say "oops, the board's ruined, need to run to the store and buy another.") The only time I've applied anything to a jig was wax, because I didn't want the router base to get stuck on the 1x2 I was using. Should have instead invested in a straight edge and a bushing.... Lesson learned. As for MDF, I've got a bench top that I hit with three coats (thin) of wax. Held up well for two years, ok for a year, and not so well this past year. (Racoons don't seem to want to follow shop rules about cleaning up after themselves.) I wouldn't bother with anything else. Not because it won't be a better finish, but because it's just MDF. Sure, it's heavy and not cheap and comes in annoying large forms and leaves a lot of dust in the air while you are cutting it.... but beside those good points, I consider it pretty much disposable. If I'm making a jig out of MDF, I'm not expecting it to last long, so I won't bother finishing it. (Then again, I think it's pretty safe to say I don't think like most people.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.