How to paint MDF - 6 simple steps
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- Опубліковано 2 бер 2020
- How to paint MDF - 6 simple steps
Mrs Woodgrafter asked me to renovate some old tired MDF drawer fronts. So having chosen chalk paint off we go.
In this video I share the approach I took to get a great finish on the MDF drawer fronts. I was so pleased with the results - I wanted to share it.
Step 1 - remove the old finish
Step 2 - prep the surface
Step 3 - seal the MDF
Step 4 - prime the MDF
Step 5 - paint the MDF
Step 6 - wax the paint
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![Painting MDF Doors [video 407]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZIwNJGlVtwc/mqdefault.jpg)
![Painting MDF Doors [video 407]](/img/tr.png)
Great results, thank you for showing your techniques.
Hi, thank you for the comment.
I am glad you have found it useful.
Cheers
Andy
Thanks, great job, you made them look amazing!
Thank you,
They are still going strong, really nice finish.
Cheers
Andy
Great job, thank you for your lesson.
Thank you for the feedback.
Cheers
Andy
The drawer fronts look great. Nice color combination. 👍
Thank you,
To be honest I was surprised at how good a finish I got on them - makes me reconsider using MDF in the future.
Cheers
Andy
Well done! You are a very careful and thoughtful woodworker. I'm building speaker cabinets and an scouring the web for tips on how to end up with a smooth satin finish in the final coats. I learnt a lot from seeing the care and attention you give i
n your work.
Thank you, good luck with the build.
A great video Andy, thank you.
Thank you Roy
22 minutes. Strip it. Sand it. Primer it (Sealer). Prime it again. Paint it. Time is precious.
Yep, that’s about it.
Great video and very nicely explained in detail.
Thank you
I've been using the Abranet sheets for quite a while now 80 to 500 grit, I have a few of the foam blocks and also one of the vacuum blocks. They last for ages and vacuum functionality has proven to be very effective.
Hi, thank you for your post.
Yes early indications are very positive.
Cheers
Andy
Muy bueno!!! Gracias desde Buenos Aires
Gracias por tus comentarios.
Great lesson thanks. I'm going to try to make a TV stand soon out of MDF and Sapele and was wondering about the best way to paint the MDF. This has helped so much.
Hi,
Glad it added value, good luck with the cabinet.
Andy
Very informative, im ringing that bell,and subscribed 👍
Thank you Phil
If doing more in MDF in the future, I have found the need to use Screwfix fine surface filler on the edges, sanded back. 2 coats of a really good primer like Zinsser Bin with no sanding, 2 coats of paint applied with a roller with second coat wet sanded with 600 wet n' dry, then final coat roller applied. Green MR.MDF is the better substrate, but still great quality furniture can be made if a painted finish is a certainty. Great content Andy, kindest regards, Hayden
Thank you,
I am not an MDF expert, it’s not a material i use very often. The additional work on the edges makes sense.
Thank you for the tip.
Cheers
Andy
Yeah!!
Right.....
@@TheWoodgrafter have you ever used zinsser bin as a primer/undercoat? That's really good for locking in before top coat and as it's shellac it doesn't soak in as much but does stink.
Interesting thanks - would you do one with varnishes and stainers
Thanks for the feedback,
Yes I could do that one day - I’ll put it on the backlog.
Cheers
Andy
Very nice job Andy 👍. I've used Abranet sheets with my Festool sander for some years now, find them excellent. For the roller sleeves I use cheap rolls of tin foil which can last for a few days or months if also kept in a bag in the fridge!
Oh, great tip - will try that, image how happy Mrs W will be when she finds my paintbrushes in the fridge.
Cheers
Andy
Great video. Would you wax all types of paint, or just ones that have a matt/chalky finish? Thank you.
Cheers Russ,
I only tend to wax the softer paints like chalk or milk. The harder paints like eggshell I tend to leave.
I have on occasion added polish to gloss paint to give it a deeper shine. And I usually wax over oil-finished woods.
Cheers
Andy
Can we apply the clear sealer by spray gun?
This was really helpful, thank you. I'd like to redo my kitchen cabinets that are plastic coated MDF. The plastic is already peeling off so I think with a heat gun or an iron I should have no trouble getting all of it off. Question: Can I use chalk paint and wax on kitchen cabinets or is that not durable enough of a finish? Is there another kind of paint and sealer/top coat that you would recommend?
Hi,
I do find that Chalk paint with wax gives a strong finish, but wax in a high use area does have some upkeep. Giving it a consistent buff for example.
An alternative is chalk paint with a polyurethane type finish, you get the look of the chalk paint but a rock hard finish that will last.
I am attempting to spray chalk paint with an airless sprayer this weekend, I will record the efforts so that may help as well.
Back to the cabinets, if you do use a poly finish - then try a sample first as it can change the colour a little.
Cheers
Andy
@@TheWoodgrafter Thank you so much for the tips! I will definitely keep this in mind. I appreciate your time and expertise.
Hello,
I use a foam roller to paint on mdf boards and Behr premium paint. I noticed that it leaves streaks sometimes on my boards when they are dry. How can I prevent this?
Thanks,
Hi,
I am not familiar with that paint, the issue normal comes down to preparation.
I use premium MR MDF such as Medite. It tends to hold a better finish.
Sand everything before I start, use a quality primer. I use BIN as it shellac based that really seals the MDF. Then sand when dry.
Then the top coat, less is better on each coat - and plan for more coats. Again sand between coats.
Hope this helps
Andy
Is there any special MDF sealer and paint you recommend?
Hi Martin,
I use BIN sealer.This is a shalac based product that gives a very good base.
I use a variety of top coats depending on what I am looking for. Chalk paint gives a nice finish, but requires a good coat of wax to protect. I have had greater success with the ‘furniture paint’ from B&Q and also the ‘Rust Oleum’ range.
A great alternative is an eggshel finish, I am using the Leyland brand.
Cheers
Andy
The problem I see is mdf comes smooth as glass so why would I sand it before I sealed it unless there is writing on them. I would sand it only after the firs seal coat and inbetween coats.
Hi Anthony
On this project, the MDF had some sort of plastic wood adhered to the MDF. So it left a residue of adhesive across the MDF.
Sanding took that off - then sealed etc.
But in real terms, sanding will remove any slight manufacturing defects, marks and any contamination that may occur during storage and transit. It also breaks down that glassy surface and give a better key.
The (moisture in the) sealer penetrates the MDF and keys into the surface allowing your top coat to dry naturally (rather than having the moisture sucked out of it, causing issues down the line).
If your MDF had some grease or sweat on it, and you didn’t sand, the sealer wouldn’t penetrate at that point. So could impact the finish and durability of the finish.
You don’t have to sand, but it is good practice. And does depend on the quality of the board you buy AND receive.
Cheers
Andy
Cheap cling film wrapped round brushes and rollers is another good way of storing overnight
Yes agree,
It achieves the same ends. Anything that keeps the air away from the paint will do the job.
The environmental option is probably a wax paper, but never tried it :-)
Cheers
Andy
On bigger boards like 4x8 does one apply the whole board with wax than wipe or wipe as one goes along applying.
I would work in sections on a bigger project. I don’t want the product sitting for to long.
I find ten mins and then wipe works well, any more then you can get blotching.
Cheers
Andy
@@TheWoodgrafter Thank You. Appreciate It.
You know her spycams are on. Whatever brownie points you thought you were gonna get are in deficit😂
Oh yes, I think you are correct.
Regards
Andy
Hi. we have stripped tje laminate from wardrobe doors but there is a lot of old glue. Any idea how to remove without damaging the mdf before painting? cheers
Hi Julie,
The glue is usually a heat sensitive glue. So warming it up makes it pliable enough so it peels of.
It could be that it has been repaired at some point with a contact glue - in that case you can try a rubbing alcohol to clean it up.
Cheers
Andy
I would have thought that waxing and giving it a sheen defeats the object of flat matt paint, why not use a soft sheen paint in the first place.
Is the primer and paint water based?
Hi Lee yes it is, so the ‘grain’ on the MDF does raise a bit (especially) on the ends. That is one of the other reason why I sand between coats. Especially after the sealer coat.
Cheers
Andy
Why did you use chalk paint?
Nice video, but the volume on your intro/outro is way too loud :)
Thank you for the feedback,
I’ll look at the levels on the next production, it is pretty easy to knock down.
Cheers
Andy
Mrs Woodgrafter 🤔🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Fink you got tooo many MTf's
You stole MrsWs iron, you know how to live dangerously.
Hi Clive,
Always have to be cautious of Mrs W - but luckily she has no evidence......
The MFT’s are going and a new shop made bench is in the way, but I am not sure you can ever have to many benches or tools.
Cheers
Andy
Laughing, one stolen iron will counter all the brownie points your earned fixing the wardrobes.
Ah but she will never know, it’s not like I made a video about it and put it on UA-cam......
ohhh i stay away from that stuff as much as possible