Reloading tabletop

jproaster · March 27, 2012, 07:46 PM

As some of you know, I built a cabinet to reload in my carport. My tabletop is enclosed and is made from 3/4" rough plywood. So, the surface is not smooth, but kinda rough. And I can see powder getting smeared in the wood. Therefore, I'm wondering what I can do to smooth out the surface.

thanks,
john

Madball6 · March 27, 2012, 07:52 PM

could just sand it and seal it, or get a cheap piece of plexiglass and cover it with that

-Madball6

sir_n0thing · March 27, 2012, 07:53 PM

I'd think either layer something like Masonite over the surface, or seal it in a finish of some sort?

abelacres · March 27, 2012, 08:05 PM

How about formica?

OEF-Vet · March 27, 2012, 08:17 PM

I used laminate flooring for mine. It worked great, was cheap and cleans really easily.

jason75979 · March 27, 2012, 08:22 PM

I have the same problem and have been toying around the idea of glassing the top. What do yall think about that?

Heavy Metal 1 · March 27, 2012, 08:38 PM

I wouldn't glass my top in case I wanted to drill holes, clamp things down,etc. Paint your surface white and you will be able to see stuff much easier.

ScottRiqui · March 27, 2012, 08:43 PM

No need for anything fancy as a sealer - some enamel paint or polyurethane varnish would do just fine to smooth it out and leave you with a durable, easy-to-clean surface.

jproaster · March 27, 2012, 08:51 PM

Quote:

I wouldn't glass my top in case I wanted to drill holes, clamp things down,etc. Paint your surface white and you will be able to see stuff much easier.

That may just be the simplest answer- inexpensive, non-restrictive and a visual aid of sorts.

I plan to install a 4 ft fluorescent light to the ceiling my 5ft wide cabinet. It would be placed as close to the front as possible at four ft above the tabletop. It's my attempt to minimize shadows.

Would a white surface be problematic with this light or for any other reason?

Thanks for the different ideas guys.

john

uncyboo · March 28, 2012, 12:47 AM

Yep just paint it.

**Mike Irwin** · March 28, 2012, 06:22 AM

If it's rough, sand it.

Then paint it with a good quality floor paint like Sherwin Williams Porch and Deck latex paint.

Very good adhesion to properly prepared surfaces, excellent scuff resistance, and does a good job resisting chemicals.

Not cheap, but top quality.

darkroommike · March 28, 2012, 11:02 AM

Prime and paint is good or for a quick fix you can just use peel and stick floor tiles.

MNDroptyne · March 28, 2012, 11:10 AM

I bought a sheet of 3/4" MDF that has a laminate on it for 6 dollars at the hardware store that had a piece of the laminate missing. It works awesome

BigJimP · March 28, 2012, 11:27 AM

I would just glue a laminate on it ....quick and easy.../ local flooring or counter top places will have some remnants ...really cheap.

You might consider some kind of a gentle ...but raised "bull nose" ledge on face and sides...so stuff doesn't roll off the counter...or rip some 1 X material that you can edge it with ...make the edging a little proud of the top ...so it gives it a lip ..but not too deep.

If you pick the right bulbs - fluorescent lights are ok ...but the "cycling of them" drives me a little nuts..../ so I like them for general light ..but not task lighting. For task lighting ...I'd find a gooseneck Halogen light...something adjustable ...like for a drafting table..office stores have them../ the ones I like have 2 bulbs in them ...and a selector switch for 1 or 2 on ...something with about a 6" head on it ...

jproaster · March 28, 2012, 09:17 PM

I'm not sure what I'll do, but it will hopefully be done by Monday. Parts from Dillon are due next week.

Time to start.

john

MOshooter65202 · March 28, 2012, 09:25 PM

+1 on the masonite table tops

oldreloader · March 28, 2012, 09:53 PM

I covered mine with stick on floor tiles

mehavey · March 28, 2012, 09:53 PM

http://www.polyclay.com/flecto.htm

Get Satin finish
Sand it, Brush it on,
Sand it and brush it on again.

Never have to touch it again.

Sailplane wings and furniture for past 17 years.
Wonderful and foolproof.
No fumes.

serf 'rett · March 28, 2012, 10:32 PM

Really rough plywood will need a top such as masonite. Paint will not remove surface roughness.

bumnote · March 29, 2012, 06:17 AM

A cheap and very fast method, self-sticking shelf liner. I've been meaning to pick up some of this stufffor my homemade bench. It only $3, and if I cut or drill into the top in some manner, I can just cut out a small patch to level it out.

jason75979 · March 29, 2012, 06:51 AM

The reason I suggested "glassing" the top was to use the glass to fill in the surface deformities and create a smooth surface without placing another layer of wood on top and creating a flex point between the two surfaces.

March 27, 2012, 07:46 PM	#1
jproaster Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2010 Location: SE Tennessee Posts: 239	Reloading tabletop As some of you know, I built a cabinet to reload in my carport. My tabletop is enclosed and is made from 3/4" rough plywood. So, the surface is not smooth, but kinda rough. And I can see powder getting smeared in the wood. Therefore, I'm wondering what I can do to smooth out the surface. thanks, john

March 27, 2012, 07:53 PM	#3
sir_n0thing Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2011 Location: WI, USA Posts: 281	I'd think either layer something like Masonite over the surface, or seal it in a finish of some sort? __________________ You can take the Texan out of Texas, but you can't take Texas out of the Texan.

March 27, 2012, 08:05 PM	#4
abelacres Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2010 Location: Jackson County Florida Posts: 207	How about formica? __________________ If something seems too good to be true it's best to shoot at it just to be sure

March 28, 2012, 06:22 AM	#11
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	If it's rough, sand it. Then paint it with a good quality floor paint like Sherwin Williams Porch and Deck latex paint. Very good adhesion to properly prepared surfaces, excellent scuff resistance, and does a good job resisting chemicals. Not cheap, but top quality. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 28, 2012, 10:32 PM	#19
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart, AR Posts: 1,569	Really rough plywood will need a top such as masonite. Paint will not remove surface roughness. __________________ A lack of planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part.

March 27, 2012, 07:52 PM	#2
Madball6 Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2011 Posts: 211	could just sand it and seal it, or get a cheap piece of plexiglass and cover it with that -Madball6

March 27, 2012, 08:17 PM	#5
OEF-Vet Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2011 Location: Backwoods, PA Posts: 284	I used laminate flooring for mine. It worked great, was cheap and cleans really easily.

March 27, 2012, 08:22 PM	#6
jason75979 Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2009 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 137	I have the same problem and have been toying around the idea of glassing the top. What do yall think about that?

March 27, 2012, 08:38 PM	#7
Heavy Metal 1 Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2012 Posts: 247	I wouldn't glass my top in case I wanted to drill holes, clamp things down,etc. Paint your surface white and you will be able to see stuff much easier.

March 27, 2012, 08:43 PM	#8
ScottRiqui Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 2,905	No need for anything fancy as a sealer - some enamel paint or polyurethane varnish would do just fine to smooth it out and leave you with a durable, easy-to-clean surface.

March 28, 2012, 12:47 AM	#10
uncyboo Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2008 Location: Shelby, MT Posts: 1,013	Yep just paint it.

March 28, 2012, 11:02 AM	#12
darkroommike Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2011 Location: western Iowa Posts: 205	Prime and paint is good or for a quick fix you can just use peel and stick floor tiles.

March 28, 2012, 11:10 AM	#13
MNDroptyne Member Join Date: January 13, 2012 Posts: 49	I bought a sheet of 3/4" MDF that has a laminate on it for 6 dollars at the hardware store that had a piece of the laminate missing. It works awesome

March 28, 2012, 11:27 AM	#14
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I would just glue a laminate on it ....quick and easy.../ local flooring or counter top places will have some remnants ...really cheap. You might consider some kind of a gentle ...but raised "bull nose" ledge on face and sides...so stuff doesn't roll off the counter...or rip some 1 X material that you can edge it with ...make the edging a little proud of the top ...so it gives it a lip ..but not too deep. If you pick the right bulbs - fluorescent lights are ok ...but the "cycling of them" drives me a little nuts..../ so I like them for general light ..but not task lighting. For task lighting ...I'd find a gooseneck Halogen light...something adjustable ...like for a drafting table..office stores have them../ the ones I like have 2 bulbs in them ...and a selector switch for 1 or 2 on ...something with about a 6" head on it ...

March 28, 2012, 09:17 PM	#15
jproaster Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2010 Location: SE Tennessee Posts: 239	I'm not sure what I'll do, but it will hopefully be done by Monday. Parts from Dillon are due next week. Time to start. john

March 28, 2012, 09:25 PM	#16
MOshooter65202 Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2011 Posts: 471	+1 on the masonite table tops

March 28, 2012, 09:53 PM	#17
oldreloader Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2009 Location: Magnolia, Arkansas Posts: 251	I covered mine with stick on floor tiles

March 28, 2012, 09:53 PM	#18
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,894	http://www.polyclay.com/flecto.htm Get Satin finish Sand it, Brush it on, Sand it and brush it on again. Never have to touch it again. Sailplane wings and furniture for past 17 years. Wonderful and foolproof. No fumes.

March 29, 2012, 06:17 AM	#20
bumnote Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2008 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 407	A cheap and very fast method, self-sticking shelf liner. I've been meaning to pick up some of this stufffor my homemade bench. It only $3, and if I cut or drill into the top in some manner, I can just cut out a small patch to level it out. __________________ "And remember, Abraham Lincoln didn't die in vain, he died in Washington D.C." - Firesign Theatre

March 29, 2012, 06:51 AM	#21
jason75979 Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2009 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 137	The reason I suggested "glassing" the top was to use the glass to fill in the surface deformities and create a smooth surface without placing another layer of wood on top and creating a flex point between the two surfaces.