Painting lots of bits of MDF – tips or tricks?
Discussion
Make yourself a drying rack - scrap of sheet material with a sawtooth/zigzag down one side attached to a wall or something heavy, then minimise the surface they sit on with a couple of strips of wood cut to a triangle profile, or the cardboard edge protectors from packing material if you have them. Can then do a bunch of shelves / doors in a batch and they can sit upright to dry without taking up much space. Don't worry about marks on the early coats, but I'd do the final coat in two sessions so you have dry paint touching the rack.
Hard to describe but the sort of thing shown at 3:25 in this video: https://youtu.be/ZIwNJGlVtwc?si=pyXCH2r2mk2LPDeF&a...
Think I'd be considering a sprayer for that may pieces though, would make it much faster.
Hard to describe but the sort of thing shown at 3:25 in this video: https://youtu.be/ZIwNJGlVtwc?si=pyXCH2r2mk2LPDeF&a...
Think I'd be considering a sprayer for that may pieces though, would make it much faster.
Spraying is fastest, but you need to create dedicated space for it and a hassle if you don’t already have the kit.
When I’ve built and painted MDF furniture before, I used a roller. The best I have found are Rota concave rollers - they do a good job of preventing tramlines.
As for drying, when I made some bookcases with many shelves, I set up a production line and dried them standing on their edges.
For painting the edges, make sure they’re super smooth using a decent sander/sandpaper and prime with two coats first before painting.
I wouldn’t paint outside - too much risk of dust. I’d paint in the garage.
When I’ve built and painted MDF furniture before, I used a roller. The best I have found are Rota concave rollers - they do a good job of preventing tramlines.
As for drying, when I made some bookcases with many shelves, I set up a production line and dried them standing on their edges.
For painting the edges, make sure they’re super smooth using a decent sander/sandpaper and prime with two coats first before painting.
I wouldn’t paint outside - too much risk of dust. I’d paint in the garage.
If have the ability to make a small spray area in a garage (old sheets pinned up to block off overspray), the cheap £30 sprayers are decent and will leave a flawless finish.
That said though, for flat things, I would be using a roller. I used to always use a roller, but the short nap Two Fussy Bloke rollers give a better finish - https://twofussyblokes.com/product/smooth/buy-spra...
In terms of paint, use a decent MDF primer. Hopefully, you are using MR MDF so should be able to get the edges perfect. If normal MDF, just keep priming and sanding back (high 240 / 320 grit) until it stops going fluffy. It can take loads of coats mind!
For paint, I am a big fan of TIkkurila Helmi (various levels of sheen).
To help, you can buy / make drying racks! That way, you don't have to contend with loads of things across the garden!
Good luck!
That said though, for flat things, I would be using a roller. I used to always use a roller, but the short nap Two Fussy Bloke rollers give a better finish - https://twofussyblokes.com/product/smooth/buy-spra...
In terms of paint, use a decent MDF primer. Hopefully, you are using MR MDF so should be able to get the edges perfect. If normal MDF, just keep priming and sanding back (high 240 / 320 grit) until it stops going fluffy. It can take loads of coats mind!
For paint, I am a big fan of TIkkurila Helmi (various levels of sheen).
To help, you can buy / make drying racks! That way, you don't have to contend with loads of things across the garden!
Good luck!
You've no control of wind or dust outside, so just be mindful of getting that in the finish. Probably not the end of the world for the shelves, but may be noticeable on the door fronts.
Having said that, a water based paint in this heat will dry pretty quick, so you might be OK with a bit of shelter and a light rub down between coats. Then do the final top coat inside.
Having said that, a water based paint in this heat will dry pretty quick, so you might be OK with a bit of shelter and a light rub down between coats. Then do the final top coat inside.
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