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Spray Painting MDF
leapinlew:
I'm building a bartop and I wonder what peoples thoughts are on using spray paint on MDF?
Does it go on even? Does the finish hold? Do I need to prime it first?
Bill Mote:
You can spray paint anything ;)
You're not going to have the best finish using MDF, but sand, prime, sand paint, sand paint ... etc. I used regular paint-grade plywood when I built mine. I put 3 coats of primer on before putting 2 coats of paint. I sanded before each coat of primer/paint. It came out pretty nice. Was 3 coats of primer overkill? Probably, but it made me feel better about it.
dot
MYX:
--- Quote from: dot on November 11, 2006, 02:43:58 pm ---You can spray paint anything ;)
You're not going to have the best finish using MDF, but sand, prime, sand paint, sand paint ... etc. I used regular paint-grade plywood when I built mine. I put 3 coats of primer on before putting 2 coats of paint. I sanded before each coat of primer/paint. It came out pretty nice. Was 3 coats of primer overkill? Probably, but it made me feel better about it.
dot
--- End quote ---
Hey LL
On my CP top, I played around with spraypaint. You can get a very nice smooth finish, but it was a pain in the but to get there. Dot asked if 3 coats was over kill. I had to go at least 3 coats (sanding in between) to make it glass smooth. Then I put on about 3 more layers of black (Sanding in between) for the top. Cost for cost, this is much more than getting a quart of kilz oil based primer tinted grey, sanding, recoating w kilz, then 2 or 3 layers of black (satin) sanding in between. Just get a big pack of foam rollers and chuck em after your done. No reason to use 14 gallons of solvent to save a $1.50 roller brush.
sealslayer:
I sprayed the whole inside of my cab after having major disasters painting it with a roller, I just couldn't get the same sort of smooth finish with a roller than with a spray gun.
It took 6 coats to spray mine but that was mainly because I should have used white primer not grey.
Getting a super smooth finish is easy even if you can't spray too well, just let it dry for a couple of weeks then fine sand with 1200+ grade sand paper then using fine rubbing compound to get the super glossy shine.
javeryh:
I will be needing some MDF painting tips soon too. I'd like a high gloss finish if possible but the only spraying I can do is out of a can - I don't have a sprayer or anything... What type of rubbing compound do you use? How long does it last?