Looking for a durable finish.........

[Mark Rios]

I know, I know....age old question, BUT....

Built-in set of drawers/cabinet in a bedroom. The top currently is finished in the same paint as the rest of the room, walls, ceiling, closets, everything, and is beat up pretty bad. The paint is the old, very hard, enamel. I will cover the top with a 1/4" sheet of MDF core walnut ply ($80 a sheet, YIKES!!!) and trim out the edges.

I'm looking for a very durable, preferably waterbased, material to finish it with. Suggestions?, Methods?, Advice?...

All are appreciated. Thanks VERY much.

[Jason Roehl]

Look at waterborne poly floor finishes. You have to be very careful with them on vertical surfaces as they have a LOT of self-levelling capability built in. Waterborne polys are pretty durable to begin with. I have a cherry coffee table built by my BIL about 10 years ago. We have not been entirely gentle with it (three kids, and in my house, I'm allowed to put my feet up on the coffee table...), but the finish itself still looks really good.