Painting Mdf? Best Way?

[loganuf]

I just built a box, and i wanted to get everyones opinion on the painting of mdf. whats the best way to go about painting it? Is there a primer that i should use before painting it, and is there a certain type of paint that i should use? Thanks for all the suggestions.

[BASS14]

I just built a box, and i wanted to get everyones opinion on the painting of mdf. whats the best way to go about painting it? Is there a primer that i should use before painting it, and is there a certain type of paint that i should use? Thanks for all the suggestions.

well i just built a box too....and im just using primer and some black paint and calling it a day....

[David]

always primer mdf before painting it, I usually give it a 4 or 5 coats, if its a show quality system i will wet sand it and make it as smooth as possible.

[andym85]

^^yep, you want to fill in all of the screw holes and seams with like a body or wood filler, sand the beotch smooth...then like david said, 4 or so coats of primer, b/c that mdf will soak up that stuff quick. sand it again. then we put a couple of coats of paint on, sanded, couple of coats of paint, wet sanded, then the final coat of paint....box came out VERY shinny, you could see your reflection in it no problem...we used probably 4-5 coats of primer and the same with the paint...take your time..

[Decaf]

with flexstone, my favorite choice when painting:

i rough up/scuff mdf with coarse sandpaper.... throw 3 coats primer... sand.... last coat primer...

then flexstone without sanding between primer and paint and the flex looks purty.... seems to really soak in this way and lay even

i cant stand sanding mdf tho .... brich is soo much easier

Edited August 7, 2008 by decafcappucino

[CarAudioFab]

Def recommend putting body filler on, saves you in primer price as not near as many coats and ultimately a better finish i feel

[banginAltima]

Does it weaking the box by the MDF soaking up the paint? If any of you have left a piece of MDF outside, you know that a 3/4 inch piece will quickly become a 3 inch MDF sponge.

[sully]

take your time with prep, your base primer will make or break your paint job

be careful wetsanding it also, you will have swelling issues and never get it back straight. I usually just barely wet the primered area and stay away from bare wood. The primer will protect the MDF from the water if you do it right.

Edited August 7, 2008 by sully

[Decaf]

i doubt it because the amount of water involved is very small which is what breaks down the glues in mdf

paint uses tyulen (?), acetone and things like that that evaporate quickly so i dont think its an issue

if you were to use a paint other than spray that might make a difference since spray is meant to dry fast

i meant moreso that the paint sticks better to the wood when sanded coarsly first, if my comment was what u were referring to bangin

[Frozenbritches]

If you got a heavily textured paint could you do like 2 coats of primer and then two or three coats of that kind of paint?