Best way to seal/paint end of MDF panel? **NEW PICS INSIDE!!**

[javeryh]

I'm building my daughter a bookcase (which takes precedence over the arcade cab according to the wife but if I build it she won't give me grief about finishing the cabinet tomorrow so it's a win-win, I guess).  I have cut all of the panels and routed the decorative edges and now I'm up to the glue/paint stage.  I'm afraid to apply paint to the edge because I don't think it will take paint well.  What should I do?

PICS COMING SOON.

[Kevin Mullins]

It'll actually take it better than you think.... it'll soak it up.
You could apply a coat of Kilz sealer or just put on extra coats of the color.

[patrickl]

How about using PVA glue like Fozzy The Bear suggests?

[javeryh]

PICS.

[javeryh]

MORE PICS.

[scotthh]

That's some fine looking routing. I'm almost embarrassed to post my pictures. I painted my MDF CP black, and the cut edge took the paint very differently than the face. It's not a big deal to me, because I will be putting t-molding on it. You need to prime it with glue or primer, I would agree with patrickl, Fozzy's solution looks relatively easy, inexpensive and quick.

[TheAdMan]

Well your first mistake was using MDF to make such a nice piece of furniture, I know it's cheap but usually a pieces like that are made out of some kind of hardwood - ur pretty much stuck with painting it, as far as I know.

[javeryh]

I used MDF because I don't have a jointer or a planer to make large panels out of hardwood - they are on the list though!  I knew about Fozzy's method but does that work for the edge as well as the flat top?  I guess I'll give it a shot tomorrow but I'd really like to be able to spray on a sealant or something - anyone have any recommendations?  I want to finish this thing this weekend...

[TheAdMan]

Well if ur dead set on spraying without sanding the surface I would say to at least give the edges sanding with high grit, fill any holes/gaps, sand again, then spray at least two coats of sealer - there is MDF sealer on the market, you just need to find a place that carries it.

I'm not sure if this brand is available in US (this website is obviously in UK) but u might find something like it:
http://www.axminster.co.uk/pricing/INC/recno/15/cid/HVTLWMAEYKTJ7NU99OX8GB1MYU6LEXG7/product-Rustins-Rustins-MDF-Sealer-22684.htm

If you can't find MDF sealer, I'd just try using a few coats of primer. You should be able to tell what kind of finish you'll get by how the MDF is taking the primer.

[mountain]

Drywall mud works great for this. Mix it well with a tiny bit of water so it is smooth like toothpaste. Use your finger to apply, forcing it in all of the voids. Let it dry, DO NOT SAND, it will ruin your nice edges*. Instead, use a wet rag. This will slowly disolve the mud and leave your wood intact. 

*For the detailed areas, gently use a flat blade screwdriver to remove the mud from the 'valleys'. Doing this part while it is still a little wet will speed up the process.

Goos luck!

Note: I am leaving for vacation early tomorrow morning and will not be able to reply. Have fun! 

[leapinlew]

Javery -

I'm impressed! I wouldn't mind seeing a project style walk through on how you did it.

[Joystick Jerk]

Step 1:Throw it in the garbage.
Step 2: Go buy an Ikea bookcase.


Not the best quality, but it's a bookcase, not the Mona Lisa.

[leapinlew]

Step 1:Throw it in the garbage.
Step 2: Go buy an Ikea bookcase.


Not the best quality, but it's a bookcase, not the Mona Lisa.

I suppose the same could be said for a ultracade. We could throw away our arcades and buy a pre-fab one. I like projects like this to help increase my woodworking skills. It's also a source of enjoyment.

[javeryh]

Thanks for the tips guys.  I'm going to try one of those methods tomorrow (probably the drywall mud/spackle method because I've got some laying around).  Now (at 5:30pm) I'm going outside to finish sanding my arcade so I can hopefully get that done tomorrow too.

lew:  I'll post a walkthrough or something in Project Announcements but it wasn't that difficult to do other than make the top and base.  Anyway, here are some pics of the glue up.

[spacies]

A PVA mix works very well as does Shellac.

Drywall mud is a very easy solution. And since you have some go with that.
The stuff smooths out very easily so you can put it on thick and rub it back.

Then just prime and paint as usual.
Use a fast drying primer. Automotive primer is THE best bar none. Next is an acrylic primer.

That is gonna be a very nice unit when done.

Are you going to spray this with cans?

[javeryh]

yeah, I've got a few cans of primer and a few cans of white spray paint.  This is a quick and dirty project - 2 weekends worth of work - but it is built to match the dresser in my daughter's room so it has to look somewhat nice when it's finished. 

I used a piece of paper and a pencil to trace the top of the dresser and then I kind of shrunk it down to a reasonable bookcase size and made a 1/2 template.  Then using the 1/2 template (flipping it over to maintain symmetry) I used a router and pattern bit to make a full template out of MDF which I used to make the top and bottom pieces.  Fancy router bits rounded over all the edges and made the decorative outline on the top and bottom.

I guess I'll slap on some spackle tomorrow morning and then sand and paint in the afternoon when it's dry.  This is the last piece of furniture I make out of MDF - I need to start practicing with real wood!

[spacies]

MDF is great for a smooooth finish, but if it was made out of real wood you can stain and clear coat it for a very nice finish if you are into the 'wood' thing.

I am not a 'wood finish' guy, me like paint!

[fjl]

Are you using nails on this thing? Screws or just glue?

[javeryh]

Purely glue - no screws at all.  Glue to MDF is an unbelievably tight bond - I'm pretty sure it's not coming apart...

[TheAdMan]

is that just wood glue?

[lanman31337]

fiberglass resin works fantastic with mdf, it soaks it up like no other.  the primer i like to use is called the gripper, it's made by glidden.

[javeryh]

yeah, it's just regular old wood glue.  The marks that appear on the sides are actually just from the clamps and will be painted over (it does look like there might be screws in there that I filled but that's not the case).  I didn't get around to spackling yesterday because I worked on my arcade the whole time (yay!).  I am planning on spackling this week and painting it over the weekend.

Does anyone have any ideas about what type of legs I should use?  Originally I was going to make tapered L-shaped legs in each corner about 3" tall but now I'm not sure since I kind of like how it looks sitting about 1" off of the ground due to the clamps... Any ideas?

[btp2k2]

I suppose the same could be said for a ultracade. We could throw away our arcades and buy a pre-fab one. I like projects like this to help increase my woodworking skills. It's also a source of enjoyment.

Yeah, I wholy agree.

I am building new desks after we move into our house just for that reason. Building anything with wood helps increase knowledge and skills that can be applied to cabinet building.

[HoopstarsGarage]

I use high fill spray on primer in a spray can..  it contains a large amount of solids and only requires 2 or 3 light coats - plus it's cheap and easy to use - available at most auto stores..

Here is a photo from my Centicade project in highfill after it has been lightly sanded:



and here it is painted - the routed edge is undetectable..  Almost seems a pity that I put an overlay over it 




Hoops

[TheAdMan]

Man I wish I could take this up as a hobby, I'm jealous.