Control panel edge

[Niels Arcade]

Hi guys,

For the cabinet I'm building (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,147851.0.html), I want to build a control panel without plexiglass cover or t-molding on the front edge. I would like the MDF edge on the front (near where your palms/wrist would rest) to be rounded off a bit and continue into the vertical part of the cp. The control panel, edge and vertical part of the CP on the front will be covered with sticker artwork.

My question is: will the rounded MDF edge (arrow in picture below) be strong enough without further protection (except for paint and sticker artwork)? Or will it still get damaged quickly if it suffers any impact (like straight edges of MDF do without t-molding or other protection). Does somebody has some experience regarding this subject?

Thanks!

[n3wt0n]

MDF likes to chip and dent on corners and edges - rounding it and covering it with vinyl artwork should help prevent or eliminate that from happening. If you are worried about it perhaps using a a piece of 3/4 inch corner-round made from hardwood would be a suitable idea. Good luck!

[Niels Arcade]

MDF likes to chip and dent on corners and edges - rounding it and covering it with vinyl artwork should help prevent or eliminate that from happening. If you are worried about it perhaps using a a piece of 3/4 inch corner-round made from hardwood would be a suitable idea. Good luck!

Thanks for the advice. I have been discussing this subject on my project thread and I've decided to use some plywood for the cp just to be sure.

[Slippyblade]

Something that works really well with MDF is to mix up a batch of wood glue and water then brush it on to the rounded edge.  Really saturate the edge.  Once it is dry, it is a nice and hard coating that you can sand if need be.

[n3wt0n]

Something that works really well with MDF is to mix up a batch of wood glue and water then brush it on to the rounded edge.  Really saturate the edge.  Once it is dry, it is a nice and hard coating that you can sand if need be.

That is a great idea Slippy. It would be like sealing the edge and the MDF would just soak that up. I'm going to remember that one.

[Slippyblade]

Something that works really well with MDF is to mix up a batch of wood glue and water then brush it on to the rounded edge.  Really saturate the edge.  Once it is dry, it is a nice and hard coating that you can sand if need be.

That is a great idea Slippy. It would be like sealing the edge and the MDF would just soak that up. I'm going to remember that one.

Not my idea.  I wish I could remember who first posted it.  He called it "armoring" the MDF.

[vwalbridge]

Something that works really well with MDF is to mix up a batch of wood glue and water then brush it on to the rounded edge.  Really saturate the edge.  Once it is dry, it is a nice and hard coating that you can sand if need be.

That is a great idea Slippy. It would be like sealing the edge and the MDF would just soak that up. I'm going to remember that one.

Not my idea.  I wish I could remember who first posted it.  He called it "armoring" the MDF.

I have personally tried this water/wood glue method to "seal" a rounded corner. I wish that I could say it worked... but it didn't. I was told to use a 50/50 mixture of water and wood glue but that turned out far too liquidy.

Perhaps I got the mixture wrong or did something else wrong but it literally didn't seal the edge at all. If anything, I'd say only add enough water to barley thin the mixture enough to spread it.

However, what I found to work FAR better was simply spraying the rounded edge with KILZ oil based primer a couple times and then sanding it smooth. When done, I couldn't tell the difference between the rounded edge and the pre-finished flat surface.

Slap on some polycorbanate coated artwork and that control panel will last a long, long time.