painting particle board

[vusteveii]

When i started, i didnt really know the difference between mdf and particle board, so i went with the particle because it was cheaper and closer to the front of the store, anyhow, im laminating the outside, so it wont be a big deal, but i was curious, what is the best process to get a smooth finish on particle board?  I was thinking about going with a white enamel primer, sanding, then spray painting black, is for the inside of the cab and a few external places that would be difficult to laminate, but i still want it to come out looking as good as it possibly can.

-steve

[grafixmonkey]

I'm doing this too!   It's almost time for painting, and I have no idea what I'm doing.  Is it in the Faq?   (starts clicking through)

[Rocky]

To get the smoothest finish for particle board, sanding after painting is the key.

I wouldn't waste too much time sanding before priming it. But, after each coat of priming and top paint, carefully sand the paint with fine sand paper. Don't be afraid to take some or most of the paint off.  Just put another coat on.

I use 320 grit paper that is designed for sanding paint.

You won't get it as smooth as MDF, but it can look nice.


Rocky

[vusteveii]

what kind of primer and paint would you reccommend?

[SpAwN]

I painted my particle board black. I'm laminating all the visible parts, (Using UAII plans). The insides look nice with just a couple coats of the black. Nice is just my opinion of course, but the surface has kind of a neat texture with the black paint on it.

[JoeB]

My mame cabinet is originally a real arcade machine.. and this machine is also made from plywood style sheets, rather than MDF.

The pros never bother paining the inside!  So, paint if you want, but if it will not be visible, no point wasting too much $$ and effort on it.

Focus on the outside.. the lamination!  Oh.. and the $$$ you save in painting, buy a router.. this thing is AWESOME for trimming the laminate when done.

[Sasquatch!]

My mame cabinet is originally a real arcade machine.. and this machine is also made from plywood style sheets, rather than MDF.

The pros never bother paining the inside!  So, paint if you want, but if it will not be visible, no point wasting too much $$ and effort on it.

Actually, priming the insides of MDF is supposed to help it from absorbing moisture from the air.

[AlanS17]

My mame cabinet is originally a real arcade machine.. and this machine is also made from plywood style sheets, rather than MDF.

The pros never bother paining the inside!  So, paint if you want, but if it will not be visible, no point wasting too much $$ and effort on it.

Actually, priming the insides of MDF is supposed to help it from absorbing moisture from the air.

So is keeping it closed and indoors.  

[u_rebelscum]

You might want to add color to the primer so it's darker.  This way you won't need as many top coats.  I dyed my primer by adding a little bit of the top coat paint to the can of primer.  It's doesn't need to be black or anything; even a light gray primer will probably mean one less top coat or thinner top coats.

With two colored primer coats (the second one was darker since I could add more paint), I only needed two coat coats.  The CP before, I needed four top coats over the white primer.

[TrickyFishy]

I agree - you should get your primer tinted to avoid having to do multiple coats.  For my particle board, I also filled it by smoothing drywall mud over all visible areas to fill in the voids.  It gives a smooth appearance and keeps it from aborbing even more paint.

That stuff is like a sponge!