MDF painting tips urgently needed

[sealslayer]

I've just put the first coat of primer on with a 6" roller and it looks like absolute crap  !!

I'm using a gloss roller is the correct type? the emulsion one looked like a shaggy dog so I didn't get that one.
There are roller lines all over the cab, Ive tried to put the paint on lightly and not to push down hard on the roller but the paint hardly applies to the MDF when I do it like that.
I know that it still has to be sanded down and another coat put on top but I'm now worried that the top coat will end up looking like this, its just awful !!!

I knew I should have hired a compressor and sprayed it !!!

[Negativecreep0]

well that is the problem with painting and not spraying.......... I'm assuming you are using gloss paint. Gloss paint makes every little line show. If you try semi gloss you may have better results. Or laminate..........

[kelemvor]

Normal rollers that look real fuzzy, go down once you get paint on them.  THat's probably what I wuld have used.  But the compressor/sprayer idea I always wanted to try too but don't really know how those work.  heh.

[MustardTent]

I just used off-the-shelf spraypaint from Lowe's (Rustoleum gloss black).  Works like a charm.   If you decide to go the spraypaint route, make sure you do it in a well-ventilated area and wear a mask.

I did just that, and I still found that the inside of my nose was black when I was done.  Stupid cheap paper mask 

[Timoe]

Home Depot, or your local hardware store, sells a white foam roller that says Ultra-Smooth finish.  Its a small roller cover and not big, puffy or nappy.

That is what you want for a smooth finish.  Also, sand lightly in between coats with 200 grit sand paper.

[fatfingers]

Yes, a small roller to fit these rollercovers (or something very similar) is what you will want.  Good Luck.

[RayB]

Use foam rollers, and roll over the paint over and over and over getting the "lines" smoothed out. Thin coats at a time...

[johnvv]

Did you sand the primer?  How many coats of primer?  On MDF, two coats of primer is not a bad idea in order to protect the MDF from moisture.  Sand each coat.  Wipe with a tack cloth between coats.

[subcriminal]

What primer are you using? Sounds like the paint's the problem. I used 'multi surface' primer that had MDF listed on the can, i think it contains PVA so it seals. I just put it on with a foam roller, the primer did look patchy but I figured it was only there to seal the MDF so just did one coat. The colour went on fine but needed two coats.

[sealslayer]

Gahh what a day !!, I think the fact that I'm a cheap ass has cost me a hard days work.
I bought cheap rollers that kept getting stuck and dragging the paint across rather than rollling it out.
Another thing I was doing was trying for a too finer finish, I used to buy salvage cars and repair / respray them so I was still using that mentality, trying to get a flawless superfine finish as if I was about to spray them   

I know realise that the roller has a texture and theres nothing I can do about that, its going to be a little bit bumpy as is the texture of the roller, Now I've come to terms with that its starting to look ok.

I sanded the hell out of the primer far more than I needed to, in some spots it went back down to the MDF.
Now that I've got the third coat on it all looks like it should nice and even with no roller marks.
Tomorrow I'll get some quality rollers not the cheap rubbish I've been using today.
The finish will be satin black, this is only for the inside of the cab as the outside I will laminate.
I've learnt today that in the future I'll paint before I put the cab togeher, the amount of problems I've had getting the roller into the corners or trying to use a paint brush with out leaving brush strokes is a joke !

Time for a Curry, Beers and some Bacardi !!!

[nuebien]

I am using this method.. modified of course for mdf.  Only sanding I do is at the end, after it's cured.

http://www.mnpctech.com/case-mod-paint-computer-pc-case-mod-how-to1.html

[sealslayer]

Ok now I'm really pi**ed, I've spent two days sanding and painting, I go to apply the "MDF  black Satin" paint and this stuff is like trying to paint with treacle, its gloopy, wont go on with the roller and just sucks in general.
If anyone in the UK knows where I can buy some good paint please let me know.
I've been to B&Q, Wickes, Homebase none of them have any expect for the rubbish I bought from B&Q's today.

There's no specialist paint shops near me so I'm pretty much screwed for the minute.
This is getting to the stage where my cab could end up as firewood on 5th November 

[Texasmame]

Just relax and take a breath first!   

If I were in your position, I'd sand everything down a bit to get it all nice and smooth.  Then, SPRAY on a coat of primer.  Damp sand that.  Then SPRAY on TWO coats of your finishing paint.  I picked up most all of my tools for my cab used, except for the Wagner Power Painter.  Still, that was like $75 with tax which isn't bad considering it's really "the right tool for the job" here. 

All is not lost!   

[Gambit]

If you're using a roller or paint brush, I second the motion to not use gloss, instead use semi-gloss.

It may be a bit more money, but brush or roll on the primer, sand, then spray on the paint.  Krylon is meant for hobby work like this.  If you use enough primer it takes less cans.

[spacies]

Ok now I'm really pi**ed, I've spent two days sanding and painting, I go to apply the "MDF  black Satin" paint and this stuff is like trying to paint with treacle, its gloopy, wont go on with the roller and just sucks in general.
If anyone in the UK knows where I can buy some good paint please let me know.
I've been to B&Q, Wickes, Homebase none of them have any expect for the rubbish I bought from B&Q's today.

There's no specialist paint shops near me so I'm pretty much screwed for the minute.
This is getting to the stage where my cab could end up as firewood on 5th November 

Dude,
Sounds like that paint is almost as thick as my ex Mrs.
Thin it down with Mineral turps if it is oil based or water if it is water based.
Thin it down so when you dip your brush into it, it drips off the tip fairly easily. Not too easily though. Aim for approx 10% max thinning. Apply in thin coats, dont try to cover in 1 go.
Also, only use a foam roller with oil based otherwise it will come out with more hair than the lady from the circus.

Have you looked at acrylic enamels? Has the toughness of oil based paint but washes up in water. If your paint shop doesn't have it then tell them they suck and try a signwriter. They have been using it for years!

All the best.

[sealslayer]

Thanks for all the advice guys, our shops over here really do suck, they either sell water based paints or solvent, that's pretty much the only choice I have.
I took that other paint back to the shop (after cleaning the tin and making it look like it hadn't been used  )

I managed to track down some satin black paint today and have given the first coat and it has gone on great, its left a nice orange peel effect pretty much like you get when you spray a car.
There are a few roller marks but they will disappear after I sand down the first coat tomorrow.

I have another question about this sort of paint, If I apply enough coats will I be able to sand it down with fine paper then use a rubbing compound like the stuff that's used in the auto trade to get a finer finish?

I'm only used to working with cellulose paint and spraying it on rather than hand painting so this is all pretty new to me, I know for sure next time though I will spray rather than hand paint.

[javeryh]

After painting MDF is there anything you can add as a top clear coat to protect it from spilled drinks (nothing thick - kind of like applying a few coats of poly after staining some wood)?

[Gambit]

After painting MDF is there anything you can add as a top clear coat to protect it from spilled drinks (nothing think - kind of like applying a few coats of poly after staining some wood)?

Just plain paper and a ink-jet printer will work.

You print out a sign that says "Spill your drink on this and I break your arms."

There you go, completely protected from spills.