I have made 3 or 4 desk tops out of 3/4" mdf and "painted" them with 2 or 3 coats of mahogany wood stain water based.It looks like a piece of mahogany if you use the brush strokes as the grain along the length of the top.The stain can be put on the end grain of the mdf and soon seals it. And if you use an old 'gone-hard' brush, you'll get even more 'grain' effect Mr. HandyAndy - Really