Painting MDF radiator covers

Kentmumof1

Hi,

Im hoping someone may be able to tell me what I need to buy to paint my radiator covers, I had these made a few years ago and now need to paint them but do I just need a normal paint or a special one because of the heat and because they are made of MDF ???

Never really done much painting before, and I went to B&Q today and there wasn't anyone there who could help me, they didn't know what I would need.

Thanks
:beer:

wallacebob

There is special MDF sealer, also called sanding sealer. I have just used ordinary undercoat and top coat on my cheap Aldi ones. You need to rub down a bit more to get nice finish, but I used eggshell paint so not as critical.

elsien

I used ordinary paint as well - one of the ones you can wipe down easier, due to the dog shaking mud all over it.

skiTTish

You get much better results using a water based undercoat and top coat ,such as Eggshell ,rather than attempting to gloss them.
The premade ones you but suggest this on the instructions too.

Forris

It depends what sort of finish you want. Water-based emulsion is easier to use. I add about 10% water to some paint for the first coat and then just straight paint after that. You can get a really smooth finish with gloss but you need to use thin coats and rub down with a fine sandpaper (800 grit) between coat - the more coats, the better the finish.

The problem with home-made covers is the edges, especially if they have been given a profiled edge (ie. with a router). This edge will soak up paint like a sponge, creating a rough finish and poor coverage unless you 'prime' it first. The best way to do this is use some watered-down PVA glue (cheap and easily available) to seal the edges. As before, a light sanding between coats will give you the best finish.

Tip -for anyone thinking of making stuff from MDF that either requires painting or will be used in damp environments, it is better to use green MDF. This has been made using a water resistant resin which also helps to give a better edge finish as it doesn't soak up the paint as much. It is available from most builder's merchants.

andrew-b

I'd use standard oil-based paint. Water-based paint isn't really recommended for painting on previously unpainted MDF as the MDF just sucks up the water (If you look on the dulux website they recommend oil-based). I painted a kitchen hatch made of MDF with water-based primer/undercoat and had problems with it adhering well (one area actually peeled off and had to be patched up). Having said that if it's already painted which i imagine it would be then water-based paint would be ok.

Soon to paint a homemade MDF bathroom vanity unit (didn't use moisture resistant one and putting my faith in the paint!)..will be using International Furniture & Cupboard paint - though it's a bit pricey at £15 for a small tin (got mine for nothing after a complaint to International about some other paint!) which requires no undercoat/primer and dries in about an hour. Also contains Teflon to make it more scratch resistant. Will also be painting some other MDF used to box-in pipes with oil-based primer and undercoat followed by a couple of coats of emulsion to match the walls.

Andy

skiTTish

We have 8 store bought home assembly,untreated MDF rad covers and all of them say to only paint with eggshell top coat and appropriate undercoat ,which is waterbased

andrew-b

I still completely disagree about getting a better finish from water-based paint on MDF whatever your instructions say. water-based paint is supposed to resist yellowing which may be why they have put that but i've painted a radiator directly before with dulux water-based paints and it has since yellowed. Radiator i painted with oil-based has remained white longer. So you can see why i don't like water-based paint. Fortunately it seems that paint manufacturer's are going to give us some decent alternatives to oil-based high VOC paints hopefully before they get outlawed altogether!

Andy

skiTTish

How odd, the only yellowing we have ever had was with gloss ,are you using Dulux? (with paint ,you really do get what you pay for ) When I checked about using gloss on the MDF ,I was told not to be cause it causes raising of the fibers and makes a lumpy finish.

Kentmumof1

thanks very much for all your replies, they have been very helpful