painting MDF options.

[pharoah007]

I have painted MDF before with spray paint and have had good success but I am wondering about paint in a can.

When I spray painted MDF I realized 1 side of a MDF sheet is nicer than tho other and paints up better, I did not use any primer and used Trimclad rust paint (spray)

This time I would like to try rolling or brushing on my paint from a can. There is much less mess this way and it is a LOT better on the wallet.

Just wondering if...

Anyone has any experience with painting MDF this way.....tips/tricks?

Will I need to roll/brush on some primer first if I go this route?

What is a good paint for MDF. I have had excellent success with Tremclad rust paint in spray form, I do not see why the same paint in a can would be any different but I think I will ask anyway.


Thanks in advance all.

[Vigo]

I've never painted mdf by hand, but I have hand painted a claw foot tub, where hiding brush strokes is critical. I used a foam paint roller for ultra smooth surfaces and was really pleased with the results.

I personally would use general purpose oil-based primer and enamel paint, since that is what i use in spray can form for mdf.

[heinekenlvr]

I've painted MDF before using paint in a can. I used a foam roller and had no problems. I would make sure that you wipe it down well with a tack rag to make sure the surface is as smooth as possible. Also you may want to sand lightly with a high grit sandpaper in beteeen coats and rewipe with the tack rag.

As for the paint I have used both a semi gloss and a high gloss latex and had good results with both

[opt2not]

I prefer painting with a roller than spray personally, though it's more work than spraying.  I used a roller on my Canucks cockail cabinet a while ago, and came out with great results:


Though, not MDF, i've used this technique on MDF cabinets before with the same results. The key is to get a nice primed surface on it. The rest comes easy.
I'm not sure if oil-based paints are good for MDF, but I've always stuck to Latex which is less stinky and a bit easier to manage. Be sure to go one or the other!  Don't mix your oil-base with latex, this is a recipe for disaster.

Get yourself some primer. Apply two or three coats of it, while sanding in between using some fine grit sandpaper. Be sure to get a few grades of fine-grit sandpaper -- I go with 100, 220, and 320. Some people have gone up to 1000.
Get a fine-grade foam roller, any hardware store will have it. Don't be scared to spend a bit more money for a quality roller.

Paint 2-4 coats of it, depending on your tastes, sand in-between. I used 100 grit for the first coat, 220 for the second, 320 for the third and last.
The sanding is for there for evening out the paint you've applied, smoothing the surface more. If you're meticulous, you can really get a nice smooth outcome.

Then, if you choose to, you can get a spray can of clear-coat to seal and protect the finish. A couple coats would do.

Do some searching on this forum, there are a lot of examples and instructions here that you can also refer to. But this is the method I generally use, and it seems to work pretty good.

 

[pharoah007]

right on, this is good news!

I am deff going to try rollers/brushes in sted of a rattle spray can this time.  I am prob going to stick to my Tremclad Rustoleum paint as I use it for so much other stuff around the house/car.

thanks all.

[Spock]

I'm using an ultra fine cabinet roller from lowes.  Works very well with little to no edges (it is very fine foam and has rounded outside edges to avoid lines).

[pharoah007]

I'm using an ultra fine cabinet roller from lowes.  Works very well with little to no edges (it is very fine foam and has rounded outside edges to avoid lines).

nice, I will try those out.

Thanks.

[trendyscotsman12]

hi

Use small foam radiator roller to apply the paint.

Use 2 -3 coats of oil based primer

then get some oil based paint, Water based paint will be pretty good aswell if can get oil based.

You will need to sand in between coats