Primer / Undercoat for MDF?

paperclap

Hi all,

I'll soon be painting my alcove units with acrylic eggshell. Everything has been built with MR MDF.

My original plan was to prime / undercoat with Zinsser BIN (shellac based). The theory was, being shellac based, it won't raise the bare edges as much... and will seal things in better.

I've got around half a litre left, of which a little will go toward sealing in some (ungalvanised) nails in my architrave! 

So, had planned to buy another tin for this. But just reminded myself just how expensive the stuff is! I'd probably need two to three tins if I were to put two coats of Zinsser BIN on. £23 for a 1 litre tin.

But, have seen a fair few people use an acrylic primer / undercoat (Leyland Trade, to be specific) with good success. In fact, even Peter Millard uses the stuff (if you know who he is, then the reference makes sense). Only £17 for a 2.5 litre tin.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/leyland-trade-acrylic-primer-undercoat-2-5ltr/64719

Any thoughts? Would a water-based primer / undercoat not raise the edges? Or, does that all come down to proper sanding (post priming)?

Thanks!

ashe

All comes down to application and sanding. We used a rustins one but that leyland one has good reviews 

bolwin1

paperclap said:

Hi all,
....... Or, does that all come down to proper sanding (post priming)?

Thanks!

This - I tried 3 different water based MDF primers / sealers on various bits of MDF panelling. All needed some light sanding to flatten off the fibres that were raised, but the edges remained good .