I just purchased the Shapeoko 5 and after deep dives on Reddit, this forum, Shapeoko videos, and even customer chat I was led to believe that the kreg 64 x 64 is my best bet. Most posts have the recommended 3/4" MDF as surface material.
Since I live in FL and will have this stationed in my non- temperature controlled garage, I have concerns with using MDF in the hot, humid garage.
Should I spring for a more expensive ply board than MDF or will I be fine?
Edit- I’ve already purchased and assembled the Kreg table. Hopefully going and purchasing the tabletop today to cut up and install.
I live in south Georgia right north of Jacksonville and was concerned as well about humidity for my 3XXL and enclosure so I went with Melamine and then put the iron on laminate on all sides and have not seen any humidity effects. Have had it for 2yrs now. I know not the same exact scenario but maybe that is a route to go!
I know it gets hot and humid in Georgia and I’m in central Florida so I would say pretty comparable.
I’ll start searching for melamine then. Thanks!
-Edit: It looks like glueing melamine to melamine edges are going to be an issue for me since I need to span 64" x 64" for my surface. Di you have any luck glueing your edges together, or was your surface small enough that it was unnecessary?
I cut it on the table saw with little blade cut through to minimize chipping i did cut and glue my doors and drawers together and havent had any issues but not on a large scale as you are going to have to. I hooked the saw up to my shop vac and 5gal bucket dust stopper to minimize dust. You wouldnt want to use it for base plate as it is essentially laminate over the top of mdf and u cant surface that. But to put machine on and stability of 64x64 should be fine. Lots of ppl in here have added support under the kreg table as well. If u search the forum. I got the melamine from lowes as well. My research led me to believe it was actually stronger than mdf and the laminate kept moisture out. That is why I ironed on the laminate banding on open edges. Which lowes had and it was relatively cheap too. $8 for 50ft of banding…
@TonyMurray There is a local mill near me that has decent pricing for 3/4" birch ply sheets. Would I have to worry about warping in the summer if I went with ply over MDF/ melamine?
Honestly I dont know i would assume it would be okay depends on if it is glued up tightly if that makes sense. I would consider doing banding on the open edges to keep moisture out or possibly some poly just because the edges would be where the moisture would potentially get in. I have used birch on lots of projects and have yet to have an issue. But again I am assuming and well we all know what that can mean hahaha.
Or easier than banding, use wood putty like the two part from minwax that comes with a hardener. And paint the plywood to help seal it. I used that for some fence repair.
I live in south GA as well outside Savannah and used birch plywood for my top as well. But I air conditioned my garage so I didn’t worry about coating it.
I don’t like my tools rusting and I don’t like sweating onto my projects.
Any wood product in that environment should be very well sealed. Even marine grade plywood will warp if allowed to. As Cullen mentioned, a 2 part polymer filler, quick set epoxy, iron-on edge laminate (*Tony), or just a bunch of coats of a good sealing finish to keep moisture out.
Melamine is particle board with a high pressure surface heated on to it. The melamine is stable but is still particle board. You have a big span and if you choose plywood and/or melamine then be sure to reinforce it on the bottom side to make sure the heavy machine does not bow it over time. The melamine ply can have ironed on edge banding. There is glue on the back side of the iron tape. You just use a regular clothes iron on the highest setting and go over it slowly and especially the ends. Also some back on the top and bottom at a 45 degree angle to make sure you stick it good. Then they have several tools to trim off the excess. The melamine tape is oversized so you have to trim it off.
I have seen good reviews for this trimmer. It trims both sides at once.
I suggest making a torsion box. You can use 1/2" MDF . The benefit of a torsion box is that even if your floor is uneven it will keep your machine reasonably even.
Might be too late, but what about just sealing all six sides with several coats of Shellac? Not as hot as FL here in Michigan, but we do get temperature swings of 50 degrees & humidity up 80-90%. I haven’t had any issues with shellac sealed MDF.
I have a few rocker switches for my control panel arriving later today. Once I get those installed, I plan on updating this post with plans and pictures, in case someone from the future is in a similar situation.
