So wich paint is the best way to go?

[BarontheFirst]

Just about ready to paint my cab and wanted to know what was the best looking and what was the most forgiving paint since I have kids! Never know if a crayon will come along! I am using 3/4 MDF. Regular = water based. Also if you have a combo not listed that you think is better please let me know.

Thanks your help will go a long way!

[Darkstalker]

If you use a glossy latex paint, it's washable...

Only downside is possible swelling from the water in the paint.  I hate using oil based paint simply because it smells awfull, and it's a PITA to clean up since you have to use a solvant.  Latex paint you can clean up with soap and water.

[Tailgunner]

Best finish on MDF is sprayed lacquer. Done right it ends up looking like glass. Only other option (IMO) is oil based paint/primer.

[monkeybomb]

water based primer is useless on MDF.  use a primer with a different base so your paint options grow.

[Darkstalker]

Hmm..Wonder how well latex paint will go over oil primer...

[bdsjake]

water based primer is useless on MDF.  use a primer with a different base so your paint options grow.

well, I used water based kilz primer and latex paint.  Looks good to me over mdf.  See my scratch built pac cab in projects. I do not detect any swelling.  For interior pieces the ease of use of water based v. oil based is orders of magnitude.

I would like to hear others experience with water based primer and mdf, if it really is a problem and I just got lucky, I will switch to oil based primer for future projects.

[BarontheFirst]

If you use a glossy latex paint, it's washable...

Only downside is possible swelling from the water in the paint.  I hate using oil based paint simply because it smells awfull, and it's a PITA to clean up since you have to use a solvant.  Latex paint you can clean up with soap and water.

Okay but doesn't the smell from the oil based paint go away when it is all dry? This cabinet will be in the family room so I don't want to smell it in the entire house. Now as far as swelling is that only from the water based paints or is it from the latex paint also?

[pocketbikez]

ive used kilz2 waterbased primer on many mdf cabs then used oil based enamel paint on top. i havent had any problems after years and years of use. i honestly dont think it really matters what type of primer is used on mdf.

the oil paint smell will go away after a few days as it cures and dries. i like enamel paint because it self levels nicely and it looks glossier than latex paint. i think enamel paint is also more durable.

[danny_galaga]

water based primer on mdf is fine, especially if you buy one made for mdf (its extra thick). then water based gloss on top with a really fine roller works well. spraying is quite tricky to get really smooth. if you use oil based primer, then you should really only use oil based paint on top, whereas you can put anything over water based primer.

oil based paint smell goes away, but you can expect to wait a few weeks before it's not so noticeable.

[BarontheFirst]

So many different ways to do this! Perhaps I should have asked for pics of everyones final paint jobs.  To help see what best matches the final result I am looking for!

[darktemp]

if you use oil based primer, then you should really only use oil based paint on top, whereas you can put anything over water based primer.

I was under the impression that it was the other way around.  Oil primer can be coated with either but latex primer can only have a latex topcoat?  Fact is either way would probably work just fine but maybe someone can clarify.

BTW - changing the thread title to include what is in the thread will get you more replies.

[RayB]

What about Melamine paint?

[danny_galaga]

if you use oil based primer, then you should really only use oil based paint on top, whereas you can put anything over water based primer.

I was under the impression that it was the other way around.  Oil primer can be coated with either but latex primer can only have a latex topcoat?  Fact is either way would probably work just fine but maybe someone can clarify.

BTW - changing the thread title to include what is in the thread will get you more replies.

no, definitely the way i said. however, in australia the most common types are oil or acrylic. not familiar with latex. so i guess i should have said ACRYLIC where i have said WATER-BASED since i'm guessing that latex is water-based?

[danny_galaga]

i have a pic or two of my finished cab here:

http://moncom.net/mame/page3.htm

unfortunately they have been resized a bit so its a bit hard to tell  

[BarontheFirst]

i have a pic or two of my finished cab here:

http://moncom.net/mame/page3.htm

unfortunately they have been resized a bit so its a bit hard to tell  

Thanks for trying to post pics but I am getting the cannot find server message!

[deadmoney5]

I saw one guy that used contact paper because he was too lazy to paint...looked ok to me....

anybody else ever use that?

[BarontheFirst]

My issue with contact paper is you got to piece it out. It isn't big enough for the sides. Three strips. I really don't want that! I also haven't said this yet but I want a paint that if 4 or 6 months down the road I want to put side art on it. I want to have it stick with no problems!So if latex paint is bad for that or any other please let me know!

[Tailgunner]

I saw one guy that used contact paper because he was too lazy to paint...looked ok to me....

anybody else ever use that?

As long as it's not that cheesy fake black marble contact paper.

I initially was going with black textured vinyl much like the pica vinyl Happs sells. I ended up using black laminate on the sides instead as it turned out to be cheaper per square foot. I did use the vinyl on the coin door panel, and it came out looking really nice.

[DougHillman]

Which paint you use is FAR less important than your technique.

You'll get good looking results with pretty much any paint if you take the time to do it right.  

Personally I use enamels, either proper oil based ones or the newer "latex enamels."  Enamel used to mean strictly oil based, but these days there are latex's that'll give you just as tough and durable a finish as any oil based paint.    

[mcdo15]

i got a latex paintsatin finish..came out great..home depot
primer one coat, black two coats

gloosy will have a shine to it

[danny_galaga]

i have a pic or two of my finished cab here:

http://moncom.net/mame/page3.htm

unfortunately they have been resized a bit so its a bit hard to tell  

Thanks for trying to post pics but I am getting the cannot find server message!

---by the flying spaghetti monster's hairy nether regions!---!! its hosted on my friends site. why he doesnt just pay a year ahead is beyond me!! keeps letting it go down. might have to get my own space...

here's one of the pics i had in mind anyway. picture doesnt do it full justice as there is some dust on the paint. but you can see what sort of gloss it has just to the right of the control panel and also next to the right leg

[BarontheFirst]

So unless there are any other views it looks like I will go with water based MDF primer and a latex black paint. Any more suggestions?

[RayB]

DannyGalaga: Is that a custom plate on the car or was it pure luck you got "999 999"??!

[danny_galaga]

DannyGalaga: Is that a custom plate on the car or was it pure luck you got "999 999"??!

hehe. you know youre the first one to notice that!! i actually photoshopped it after someone suggested it would be prudent not to have the real number on the net. so there is ONE number nine in the real number!! where i live though, everyone has personalised plates after they made it a blanket $50 for any combination. there's so many it's boring. things like '1' and '666' went years ago of course so you get daft plates like '14U2NV' (on a hyundai. yeah i so wish i had that car...) etc. or stupid abbreviations like 'TRMN8R' (groan). or LANCER on a lancer and WRX on a, you guessed it, a wrx!i reckon me having an actual number is more unique around here nowadays!!

[RayB]

I was thinking of getting " NV8R"  

[Mameotron]

The most creative plate I have ever seen was on a volkswagen bus in California.  It was "p34p3p".

Upside down, with the font California used in the 80's, it spells dedhed!!

[giskiwi]

if you use oil based primer, then you should really only use oil based paint on top, whereas you can put anything over water based primer.

I was under the impression that it was the other way around.  Oil primer can be coated with either but latex primer can only have a latex topcoat?  Fact is either way would probably work just fine but maybe someone can clarify.

Having worked in a paint shop for six and a half years, although this was a few years ago, I would tend to disagree with the quote by danny_galaga.

Generally, any paint can go over any primer - water over oil and oil over water - or so I was taught here in NZ.

As for the paint types:
     Acrylic/Latex/Water-base are all water-thinned;
     Alkyd/Enamel/Oil-base are all turps-thinned.

Apart from these types, there is also lacquer (as previously noted by another poster), automotive and marine paints.

In the city where I live, a local joinery company has used automotive paint on kitchen cabinets, with great results.

Hope this helps.

giskiwi

AFTERTHOUGHT: water-base/acrylic is preferable as primer on mdf, oil-base/enamel can soften and degrade the glues etc used in the manufacture of the mdf.

[rampy]

also of consideration... but not mentioned/asked...

what "finish"   flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, glossy, etc...

That can have a more profound effect on the finished look  (besides how it's applied and how well the surface is prepared <--- important) than if it's oil based or water based...

*shrug*  IMHO anyways...

rampy

[PedroSilva]

water based primer is useless on MDF.  use a primer with a different base so your paint options grow.

Alow me to disagree ....  

I used water based primer and paint on MDF ... here see for yourself the results ...
http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=13087;start=40

[chasmosis]

I just saw this license plate the other day.  

W0DFK

The second character was specifically a zero, it had a slash thru the center.  Took me a little bit to figure it out.  It makes more sense when you remember that some people use the word "ought" for the zero (hint: WTF).

Here and I thought they made you explain the reference on personalized plates in my state.

[danny_galaga]

I just saw this license plate the other day.  

W0DFK

The second character was specifically a zero, it had a slash thru the center.  Took me a little bit to figure it out.  It makes more sense when you remember that some people use the word "ought" for the zero (hint: WTF).

Here and I thought they made you explain the reference on personalized plates in my state.

here the plate choices are submitted to a panel of geriatrics. problem there is that they aren't 'hip' to what's new. they passed '---Bad words, bad words, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when saint censors you?---' for instance until people complained!! (it was a little old lady who had that). and i've seen PNKBTS which is supposed to be 'pink bits'. again, old farts have no idea. i had thought of trying them on with an aboriginal equivalent of a four letter word!!

[danny_galaga]

Having worked in a paint shop for six and a half years, although this was a few years ago, I would tend to disagree with the quote by danny_galaga.

Generally, any paint can go over any primer - water over oil and oil over water - or so I was taught here in NZ.

As for the paint types:
     Acrylic/Latex/Water-base are all water-thinned;
     Alkyd/Enamel/Oil-base are all turps-thinned.

Apart from these types, there is also lacquer (as previously noted by another poster), automotive and marine paints.

In the city where I live, a local joinery company has used automotive paint on kitchen cabinets, with great results.

Hope this helps.

giskiwi

AFTERTHOUGHT: water-base/acrylic is preferable as primer on mdf, oil-base/enamel can soften and degrade the glues etc used in the manufacture of the mdf.

thats cos in NZ you  use boiled down kiwis for paint!! hehe. i'm confused now too, because i used to work in a hardware shop where i mixed paint. but you know, maybe im thinking of where if you have an old house and the walls are painted in enamel, then you cant just put acrylic on the top of it- needs a compatible primer...

whatever the case is, it IS true that enamel is more durable than acrylic still. i used acrylic purely because it was easier an faster...