Painting particle board

[thewisteron]

Don't ask me why I built my cab with particle board, but I did. I've Bondo'd all of the big stuff, but particle board inherently has small pinpoint crevices. I've sanded it as smooth as I can get it. Do you think an oil-based primer will smooth it up? I don't want to laminate it since I prefer paint. Thoughts?

[Mike A]

Match and gasoline? If that is not an option I would say bite the bullet and laminate it.

[thewisteron]

You don't think an oil based primer would do it? I might give it a shot.

[Ond]

Nothing wrong with building with particle board and painting it. If you want a smooth surface paint it with the primer you mentioned to fill the rough texture, sand it smooth when it dries and then paint it with oil based paint of choice.  Laminating is also an option but takes just as much of effort as painting assuming you have the tools to cut it up, flush trim it and glue it.

[thewisteron]

Thanks Ond. What happened to your mirror finish tutorials? The YouTube videos weren't working last time I checked.

[thewisteron]

Also, do you thin your oil based paints?

[RandyT]

Kilz latex sealing primer, sand between coats.  The stuff is thicker than thick and will easily fill small voids in textured wood products.  Takes oil enamel fine when fully dry.

[thewisteron]

I ended up using Kilz oil based primer. Put on two coats to fill everything and letting dry right now. I'll sand tonight and post progress.

[Ond]

Thanks Ond. What happened to your mirror finish tutorials? The YouTube videos weren't working last time I checked.

These are restored now in the 'Are there "How to Videos" on arcade building?' sticky.

[elvis]

I've made half a dozen MDF cabinets now.  Zero issues.  I use 2 coats of gyprock/drywall 3-in-1 sealer/primer/undercoat, sanding after each coat, and then 3 top coats, sanding on everything except the final coat.

All have come out perfectly smooth mirror finish using a mohair roller.

All up, half the cost of using plywood and organising a compressor/spray unit.  Sure, I'd rather do it that way.  But for my own personal use, I'll happily pocket the cash not spent.

Here's a shot of one of my "terrible" MDF cabs painted with a roller.

[thewisteron]

I wish I'd used MDF. 

[DeLuSioNal29]

Just get "Filler Primer".  It's like giving it a skim coat of bondo but built in.   


https://www.zoro.com/rust-oleum-filler-primer-gray-1-qt-254863/i/G3558651/?gclid=CLj5kN2npNICFR5YDQodzwIN7Q&gclsrc=aw.ds

DeL

[thewisteron]

I tried some of that filler primer in a spray can version but it didn't lay it on thick enough, so that is why I went the oil-based primer route. If that doesn't work, maybe I'll try rolling it on. Thanks for the suggestion.

[thewisteron]

@elvis, what type of paint did you use on your mirror finish top coat? Did you do any wet sanding?

[thewisteron]

Welp, oil-based primer still didn't really work. Put on two coats, sanded it down almost all the way back to bare wood, and I still see imperfections. Guess I'll try rolling on that filler primer. If that doesn't work I'm burning it and starting over with MDF or plywood.

[Ond]

That high build primer Del mentioned is the solution. Applied in several coats sanding in between - like in my videos.  Use bondo to fill in larger pits.  Drywall compound, high build primer etc all do the same thing.  For large areas use a mechanical sander (like in my videos).  Wet sanding, if used at all is only for the final finish.  Elvis's very nice finish will be due to the initial surface prep and then final coat roller application.

[thewisteron]

I'll try it tonight. Hopefully that is the answer since I really don't want to start over.

[Mike A]

Yeah. You are hip deep right now. It would be a shame to start over. I hope this works for you.

[DeLuSioNal29]

It may also be that you're sanding too much.  Give it a coat of that stuff I recommended.  Sand LIGHTLY.  You don't want it to be super smooth at first.  Give it another coat.  Sand.  Rinse and repeat.  Eventually all the pits will get filled.  Then you can sand it to a smooth finish.  If you sand too much in between it won't work as well (in my experience).  You need it to build up first.

DeL

[thewisteron]

Thank you for that advice. Wish me luck! I'll post pictures in my project thread this weekend. I haven't updated it in quite a while anyway.

[thewisteron]

Anyone ever use this. I'm skeptical it will work on particle board: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I1CBS0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_907RybZ52R42E

[Mike A]

Do whatever Ond says. His results speak volumes. Watch his videos. I have a cab I am going to paint soon. The first thing I am going to do is watch those videos.

[Dal1980]

Oh id stay away from wood grain filler. It's not worked at all for me. I ended up just using wood filler and sanding. I'm only at that stage now though but already fills better.



This is what im using;


Instead of this useless stuff:

[thewisteron]

I almost started over with MDF, but thanks to Dal, I gave wood filler (Bondo brand) a shot. It worked great. I used about half of the hardener cream it asks for so I had more working time to spread it wide.

Anyway, long sorry short: don't use particle board, but if you do, use Bondo wood filler to smooth it before painting.

[CheffoJeffo]

I almost started over with MDF, but thanks to Dal, I gave wood filler (Bondo brand) a shot. It worked great. I used about half of the hardener cream it asks for so I had more working time to spread it wide.

Anyway, long sorry short: don't use particle board, but if you do, use Bondo wood filler to smooth it before painting.

Glad it worked out and thanks for taking the time to post a resolution. 

[elvis]

@elvis, what type of paint did you use on your mirror finish top coat? Did you do any wet sanding?

No wet sanding, no clear coat.  2x coats of undercoat with 400 grit sanding after each.  3x thin coats of jet black enamel, with just a light 600-grit sand after all but the last coat, using a mohair roller.

Just take it slow and use a sensible amount of paint.  Give it a good amount of dry time with the top coats to prevent bubbles.  Haste makes waste.