Blackboard paint - priming the wood

[littlegreenfairy]

I want to make a blackboard using MDF. Today in B and Q I was told I needed to prime the wood with PVA glue.

Is this correct? And do you use neat glue or watered down glue?

Also, can anyone recommend a cheap but reasonably good jigsaw.


Oh, and I need to cut the neck off a glass bottle - what will I need to do it?

Thanks

[Pothole]

equal parts pva and water should do it.

cheap = crap with power tools as well you know I'm sure.

No idea, but this may or may not help

[littlegreenfairy]

Actually I want to make a house shaped black board for the kitchen...

And a cupcake one and an apple one.... so the jigsaw might get a lot of use.

I'm very tempted to buy my Dad one for Christmas along with some MDF and a pattern for the shape...

He refused to tell me how to cut glass as he doesn't think it is safe for me to do it

[littlegreenfairy]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Like I say, we have the paint on the actual wall, to be jot pad or whatever.
If you are weeely cleva you add Iron filings to the paint, slap it on and you can also then use magnets too !

Cutting the Glass bottle does make me think A&E.

It'll be fine

I have just found magnetic primer paint - so a coat of that and then the black board and job done!

Does it work as well as a blackboard, as is it any good? And can you wash it?

[Simpo Two]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

BB paint is thick old gloppy stuff. We have some on a wall in the Kitchen. I would be surprised it needs any prep. 2 Coats. Done

Wot he said. Possibly the best covering paint you can buy.

[squicky]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Like I say, we have the paint on the actual wall, to be jot pad or whatever.
If you are weeely cleva you add Iron filings to the paint, slap it on and you can also then use magnets too !

I wish I'd thought of that when I did mine. That would have come in very handy! We've got a column between the kitchen/dining room where a wall used to be that's too thin to do anything with so I painted it with blackboard paint.

[BoRED S2upid]

No need for any prep thats B&Q trying to increase their sales. Couple of coats and jobs a good un.

[littlegreenfairy]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

littlegreenfairy said:

Does it work as well as a blackboard, as is it any good? And can you wash it?

Umm yes - sure it does?

Edited by Paddy_N_Murphy on Wednesday 24th November 13:15

I can't believe you custard tested it

Brilliant. I'm now the happy owner of a massive piece of MDF and a litre of paint. There was a spray version but I thought I'd make less mess with paint.

I'm still deciding whether to magnetise it yet, or do another one in hot pink and make that one a magnet board.

[Z4monster]

Tip of the day for you.

When you have a fresh clean blackboard surface, Prime the board surface first by rubbing the side of the chalk all over randomly. Then wipe the chalk off and it leaves a powdery surface which wipes easily in use.

DO NOT WRITE RUDE WORDS ONTO IT. Even when you wipe them off they are always visible.

School once had the blackboards repainted and before anyone had a chance to prime the surface, someone wrote a very rude comment about the head in foot high letters across it. It was visible for years afterwards as nothing would remove it.

I loved that classroom. Always made me smile!

Edited by Z4monster on Wednesday 24th November 16:11

[littlegreenfairy]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

littlegreenfairy said:

I can't believe you custard tested it

I know of no other form of Proof ?

Why the MDF ? can't you go straight on to the Wall too ? - Admittedly it is plaster not plaster boards, but better non?

Did you have to explain to your wife why CUSTARD was written all over the board? I was concerned that the surface wouldn't be as good as a slate board but it looks really good

It's a rented house so I assume the landlord wouldn't appreciate it too much I also wanted to put it in a nice frame so it looked a bit different, or shape the MDF but that has turned out to be too hard (I have persuaded someone to do one at the weekend for a lemon drizzle cake and will give that one as a gift)

[B17NNS]

Oh, and cut/sand the MDF outside and wear a dust mask. Fully of nasty stuff.

Re. the jigsaw just buy as cheap as you can. Doesn't sound like it's going to get excessive use anyway and they all come with a years guarantee.

This is cheap as chips, read the reviews.

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/78892/Power-Tools/Ji...

[JABB]

Part of the idea of priming MDF prior to painting it is to seal the surface. If you paint directly onto MDF, usually it lifts the fibers leaving a rough surface. If you paint it first with the PVA mix, you should knib it back with warn sand paper to give a good smooth surface, and then paint it. Rough surface and a chalk board don't mix well.

[Simpo Two]

littlegreenfairy said:

I'm still deciding whether to magnetise it yet

You can magnetise paint?

JABB said:

Part of the idea of priming MDF prior to painting it is to seal the surface. If you paint directly onto MDF, usually it lifts the fibers leaving a rough surface.

A light going-over with fine sandpaper will fix that.

[GreenDog]

To cut the top off a bottle you first score round it with a glass cutter a few times then make sure the glass is cold before putting it into hot water. Should break cleanly along the scored line.
My dad used to cut the bottoms off glass jars this way then use them as mini cloches in the garden.

Remember to wear glasses and gloves just in case though !