Hey everyone… I hope everyone is doing well. not much softball season left (which is good in one way and sad to know it will be done forever) then I will get my weekends back…but I digress 

 

I am working on a concept for a friend of mine…. Can something be applied to MDF to keep it water proof?

 

I am in near Hickory NC and swung by Klingspor’s Woodworking Shop and found this canary wood slab….I could not pass it up…lol

 

Nice plank. 
 

waterproof MDF?  Doubtful 

Awesome score on the slab Kevin. Waterproof MDF? Is your project for outdoor use? If so, look into MDO. Outdoor signs are often made from it.

Yes it would be for outside. I will check into that. How does the weight compare with MDF (as a reference)

 

Thank you!

Edited April 12, 20233 yr by KevTN

MDO is quite a bit lighter than MDF....and you'll never make MDF waterproof. But according to this website, 3/4" MDO is 2.2#/sq. ft., versus 3.16" sq. ft. for MDF. As for that slab of canary wood: YOU SUCK!

1 hour ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

MDO is quite a bit lighter than MDF....and you'll never make MDF waterproof. But according to this website, 3/4" MDO is 2.2#/sq. ft., versus 3.16" sq. ft. for MDF. As for that slab of canary wood: YOU SUCK!

 

Thanks for that web site Fred.  I've looked for this type info many times without finding it.  Now I have it bookmarked.

2 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

MDO is quite a bit lighter than MDF....and you'll never make MDF waterproof. But according to this website, 3/4" MDO is 2.2#/sq. ft., versus 3.16" sq. ft. for MDF. As for that slab of canary wood: YOU SUCK!

Yeah well you have made some really good deals that I didn't have a chance at so back atchya!!  

 

Thank you for website and information! I am hoping to start mocking some stuff up to be able to show what's going through this minimal grey matter of mine. 

 

If I would to route the MDO into a sign does that take away any of the water proofing? 

Edited April 12, 20233 yr by KevTN

Well, all I can do is offer an unqualified opinion.Since MDO is made for outdoor signs it stands to reason they use a weather proof glue, and the edges would be exposed anyway.....so I'm guessing it's still good, but maybe a little less so than if you didn't route it. Maybe someone else has some other info on that.

1 hour ago, KevTN said:

If I would to route the MDO into a sign does that take away any of the water proofing? 

I'm definitely not an expert in this area nor did I sleep in a Holiday Inn last night, but I assume you would be painting, coloring sealing routed out lettering? Doing so would be no different than preserving the cut boundry edges of the sign in some fashion IMO.

Yes I would be painting and sealing it some sort of way.   Thank you

several years ago i was looking to make a weather proof table top for use at the pistol range.  something with minimal maintenance.  i looked into MDO, talked to a nice guy who sold it locally, and ended up not using it.  he explained that yes, it was used for exterior signage, but that it also needed ongoing care and maintenance (painting), and that it is not weather proof to the extent i was looking for.  i ended up getting 3/4" ext. sheathing and covering that with some shower liner material (it is weather proof, made for showers) to get the desired end result.  the liner material keeps the weather off the plywood and provides structural support for the table top.  serves the needs of the range with zero maintenance needed.

 

look into some naturally weather proof lumber, like cedar or redwood?

59 minutes ago, DAB said:

several years ago i was looking to make a weather proof table top for use at the pistol range.  something with minimal maintenance.  i looked into MDO, talked to a nice guy who sold it locally, and ended up not using it.  he explained that yes, it was used for exterior signage, but that it also needed ongoing care and maintenance (painting), and that it is not weather proof to the extent i was looking for. 

 

That's not been my experience. I made my mailbox post out of MDO probably 12 years ( a box beam that slipped over a 4x4 ground post) I have repainted it once (just last year, actually) but other wise it's been rock solid. The original paint was an oil base primer topped with a good quality exterior acrylic paint. About 3 years ago the county snow plow broke it up with snow blast. I took it in the shop re-glued everything, adding some reinforcing fasteners and put it back out....it's still good to go (but with a snow blast shield in the winter).

Edited April 12, 20233 yr by Fred W. Hargis Jr

There is always plastic decking boards or PVC boards.  These would require expansion consideration.  Heavier than wood too.

Hey Aluminum or sheet metal out in the weather would be a smarter selection especially since wanting to use a 100 dollar board out in the weather then having to get advise to try and keep it from rotting.

   Sorry for my post but being honest is the best choice here...or even double sided Formica would last forever outside

smallpatch

Edited April 12, 20233 yr by Smallpatch

On 4/12/2023 at 3:54 PM, HandyDan said:

There is always plastic decking boards or PVC boards.  These would require expansion consideration.  Heavier than wood too.

Thank you. I am trying to keep as light as possible…

On 4/12/2023 at 4:35 PM, Smallpatch said:

Hey Aluminum or sheet metal out in the weather would be a smarter selection especially since wanting to use a 100 dollar board out in the weather then having to get advise to try and keep it from rotting.

   Sorry for my post but being honest is the best choice here...or even double sided Formica would last forever outside

smallpatch

I need to be able to paint specific colors. Not sure if you can do that with Aluminum or formica or can you?

9 hours ago, KevTN said:

I need to be able to paint specific colors. Not sure if you can do that with Aluminum or formica or can you?

 

I would think either of those could be painted with the appropriate prep and primer.