painting MDF for kitchen cupboards

bloomin_freezing

I recently asked if anyone had used Dulux special mdf paint, but no one had any experience.

So now I am asking what have you used to paint mdf with when making your own kitchen cupboards.....? Do I use normal kitchen and bathroom paint with a varnish on top?

Thanks all.

RodBod

Hi - I spray furniture for a living - Id recommend Dulux acrylic primer on mdf (about half the price)- remember to sand down the edges and give an extra coat(the end results are far more impressive if you really sand well after first coat - you should look to compress the fibres so it goes really smooth, preperation is 9/10 of the job ) - Id also recommend a water based top coat as oppossed to the varnish, as varnish tends to yellow and crack over a period of time.
Hope this helps.

lovelyjubbly

we used acrylic eggshell paint, worked a treat, and no smell!

misgrace

bloomin_freezing wrote: »

I recently asked if anyone had used Dulux special mdf paint, but no one had any experience.

So now I am asking what have you used to paint mdf with when making your own kitchen cupboards.....? Do I use normal kitchen and bathroom paint with a varnish on top?

Thanks all.

I didnt see your post before, I have used MDF paint for a client who actually wanted me to use it.
I dont use MDF paint on any MDF furniture, but I did as client requested it, I dont think it was the Dulux one though, but it was a well know name, and they also make tile paint, but cant think of the name offhand.

But I was not impressed with it, it said on the tin, 'covers in one coat', did hell as like.
I used up the clients tin, then used what I normally use, it did the same job but better.

Personally from experience, I find that oilbase products are the best.

With MDF it soaks up the first and even the second of paint, and I always dilute oilbase undercoat with white spirit as a first coat, it works on the same basis as a miscoat for new plastered walls.

Then, I do a second underocat, thin down again, but not as much as the first, I then do a third coat, and I still very slightly thin again, as undercoat is very thick, and you are labouring if you dont thin it down, plus you get a smoother finish.
I then do 2 coats of either satinwood, or eggshell finish, I never use gloss on MDF.

Like Rodbod says, its the preperation with MDF, you have to lightly sand down first, and in between coats, and take care of any beading detail, or the edges of the MDF as it tend to fur up, so you need to sand these areas a bit more.

But the more coats you do, the better it looks, and if you take the time on it and do it right, they do look really good.

ronnylon

can anyone help please, is there anyway I can cover MDF wrap with a colour or paint, I have washed my kitchen units too well over the years, and the grey wrap cover has started to show through, my kitchen is too old for modern kichens, so cant replace doors, as mine are now too big a size.
thank you