Sealing the rough edge of MDF

[Turn7]

Higher quality MDF, like Medite, will not have as bad a fluff as the cheapo stuff from the sheds.

[philmots]

I made all my new skirting board from 8x4 sheets of MDF.. Cost me well under £100 rather than the £700 to buy it in.

You need an MDF primer/undercoat before your final coat of paint..

I used an electric sander with some 120 paper on to get rid of the main fluff.

Applied primer with a roller to the sanded edge (this first coat just soaks straight in)

When dry I sanded again smooth then put another coat of primer on which was again sanded back.. Ready for the top coat. (Satin wood for me)

It looks great, very happy.. Like all things paint related its all in the prep work. As boring as it is, don't rush it.

[B17NNS]

philmots said:

Cost me well under £100 rather than the £700 to buy it in.

Bloody hell, how big is your house? 5" runs at about £2.50 lm primed and ready to go.

[Rosscow]

Turn7 said:

Higher quality MDF, like Medite, will not have as bad a fluff as the cheapo stuff from the sheds.

Indeed.

Also, Medite and Kronospan also produce higher density MDF's for routing - this gives a much better finish when painting.

[philmots]

B17NNS said:

philmots said:

Cost me well under £100 rather than the £700 to buy it in.

Bloody hell, how big is your house? 5" runs at about £2.50 lm primed and ready to go.

Not big unfortunately. I was pricing in the lot there, inc paints, sander, sand paper etc...

[virgil]

I've tried most of the above...and by far the best is sand to a smooth as possible finish and then prime, let dry, prime again to build up the surface, then sand, undercoat and top coat. used 600 grade wet and dry (wet) for the final sanding...

As said, putty/filelr goes too hard, PVA to rubbery (unless left for a lifetime).

Have tried varnish and laquer first to soak in and they worked, but no better than just priming twice... made some MDF shelves with 6mm radius edges that once sprayed looked factory finished...

Just lots of fine sanding...

[Rosscow]

I think 600 grit wet and dry is going a bit OTT but as long as you're happy!

[virgil]

Rosscow said:

I think 600 grit wet and dry is going a bit OTT but as long as you're happy!

You can get away with 400 grit if it's for something that goes behind the sofa or for picture rails