covering wood with fabric question
#11
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Guam
Posts: 160
Polyurethane, a water based finish that is used for gym floors, would give you the slippery finish that you want. You could apply it directly to the MDF if you wanted the MDF color. You could use diluted Elmer's school glue to fasten fabric to the sanded table top. If the fabric isn't where you want it, the school glue allows you to move it. Press the fabric THOROUGHLY before you start. Wrap the pressed fabric around a swim noodle, a cardboard roll from carpet, or a board so that you can unroll it after applying glue to a width of the table top. Smooth out the fabric before applying more glue. A brayer or rolling pin works well. Folding the fabric over the edges would give a finished look. After the glue dries thoroughly apply the polyurethane in several THIN layers according to direllctions on the can. My work table, cutting table, or table for everything I need to do was covered with fabric and polyurethane 17 years ago and is still going strong. There are a few scratches.
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Michigan Thumb
Posts: 1,956
The top of my cutting table is a hollow core door with vinyl flooring glued on. The flooring has a gridded pattern to it which makes it very convenient for squaring fabric and patterns. The edges of my tabletop are finished with varnished molding. I have used the cutting surface for over 25 years and it looks like new. I also use a rotary cutting mat on top. I couldn't be happier. I think you could do something similar with a vinyl flooring remnant.
#13
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx.
Posts: 16,105
Polyurethane is what I was trying to think of. My husband uses it often. He built our kitchen table and used polyurethane on the top. 3-4 coats and wet sanded in between. It's so slick I can easily move fabric across the top even though the wood has grooves in it.
Polyurethane, a water based finish that is used for gym floors, would give you the slippery finish that you want. You could apply it directly to the MDF if you wanted the MDF color. You could use diluted Elmer's school glue to fasten fabric to the sanded table top. If the fabric isn't where you want it, the school glue allows you to move it. Press the fabric THOROUGHLY before you start. Wrap the pressed fabric around a swim noodle, a cardboard roll from carpet, or a board so that you can unroll it after applying glue to a width of the table top. Smooth out the fabric before applying more glue. A brayer or rolling pin works well. Folding the fabric over the edges would give a finished look. After the glue dries thoroughly apply the polyurethane in several THIN layers according to direllctions on the can. My work table, cutting table, or table for everything I need to do was covered with fabric and polyurethane 17 years ago and is still going strong. There are a few scratches.
#14
Super Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,391
Think of all the time and money you are investing in this. It needs to be right, and right from the beginning, or you will be extremely frustrated.
I would go to a cabinet maker and have him make a Formica top using as thin a piece as he would recommend. If you will be taking it off and on once in a while, it needs to be a little bit sturdy.
You will be happier in the long run if you spend the money and do it right.
I would go to a cabinet maker and have him make a Formica top using as thin a piece as he would recommend. If you will be taking it off and on once in a while, it needs to be a little bit sturdy.
You will be happier in the long run if you spend the money and do it right.
#15
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Cordova,TN
Posts: 23
The top of my cutting table is a hollow core door with vinyl flooring glued on. The flooring has a gridded pattern to it which makes it very convenient for squaring fabric and patterns. The edges of my tabletop are finished with varnished molding. I have used the cutting surface for over 25 years and it looks like new. I also use a rotary cutting mat on top. I couldn't be happier. I think you could do something similar with a vinyl flooring remnant.
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1,091
I covered a pool table with a sheet of plywood, stained it then applied polyurethane. After a few years the whole thing was taken down and removed so I don't remember the details but it worked for well for cutting and pinning when I sewed. Anyway, I think polyurethane is the way to go.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Posts: 857
Think of all the time and money you are investing in this. It needs to be right, and right from the beginning, or you will be extremely frustrated.
I would go to a cabinet maker and have him make a Formica top using as thin a piece as he would recommend. If you will be taking it off and on once in a while, it needs to be a little bit sturdy.
You will be happier in the long run if you spend the money and do it right.
I would go to a cabinet maker and have him make a Formica top using as thin a piece as he would recommend. If you will be taking it off and on once in a while, it needs to be a little bit sturdy.
You will be happier in the long run if you spend the money and do it right.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Philomath,Ore
Posts: 499
I'm not sure what you are using the table for, but my cutting surface is an old door which my husband covered with formica, and it works great. Of course most of it is covered with cutting mats since it's well, a cutting table!
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Hamburg,Western New York State
Posts: 4,856
#20
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: other side of the black stump, Perth Western Australia
Posts: 1,902
Thank you all for taking the time to reply to my question, all advice was greatly appreciated.
The table will mainly be used as a table to sandwich quilts on and also used as a cutting table but I will use a mat under it. I will also use it as a general sewing table.
I have already bought the material and my carpenter husband has made the top. My idea was the formica but husband insisted on the MDF..lol..who am i to argue when he spent all that time making it and it fits like a glove and i love it except for the colour!
Vinyl would have been a good idea but as i have already bought the material i think I will do what z suggested as her advice confirmed what we had been thinking of doing and it sounds like it will be durable. Thanks Z!
The table will mainly be used as a table to sandwich quilts on and also used as a cutting table but I will use a mat under it. I will also use it as a general sewing table.
I have already bought the material and my carpenter husband has made the top. My idea was the formica but husband insisted on the MDF..lol..who am i to argue when he spent all that time making it and it fits like a glove and i love it except for the colour!
Vinyl would have been a good idea but as i have already bought the material i think I will do what z suggested as her advice confirmed what we had been thinking of doing and it sounds like it will be durable. Thanks Z!
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