MDF Finishes

[Robh3606]

Hello All

I am looking for some advice finishing MDF cabinets. I have used brush on paint and verniers. I would like to use a spray on finish from the can. Have any of you tried this????

I can't vernier because all my edges have been routed and the brush-on, no matter how careful you are leaves brush marks. I want an easy gloss black finish. I was thinking of primer, semiflat black, and then clear coat.

What do you think??? Have any of you done a similar finish on MDF???

Thanks Rob2
:)

[peteir]

i havent worked specifically with mdf, but if you use good spray primer and compatible paint you should be able to get a nice clean finish much more easily than you have trying to brush. one of the things i have found about spray finishing is to make sure you do it in a place where the dust is at a minimum, but with proper ventilation of course, and dont try to put too thick of a coat on because it will run or sag and thats not attractive. numerous, thin coats is the way to go. good luck.

tall boy

[Wardsweb]

I got a nice finish on some 3/4 mdf shelves I did painting first with some semi-flat black and then using DEFT

http://www.deftfinishes.com/wood/images/cwfcan.gif

[WildWest]

I am not big on spray bomb for larger projects. It can be a "spotty" thing at times. Give me a high quality brush, let me mix the paint and I will show you no brush marks.

[Robh3606]

Ok Wildwest you show off:p:

I can do it with varnish but no way with paint!!

Hello Wardsweb

Thats a good idea. Varnish self levels have to give that a try!

Thanks!

Peteir

Those sags and run are exactly what I am worried about. That's why I don't want to try a gloss. I always seem to get runs with gloss spray paint????

Rob2:)

[Rob]

I sealed the MDF on my new horns with clear shellac thinned with alcohol using a brush. After drying did light 220 sanding and cleaned the sanding dust then sprayed with gun and compressor applying a good quality semi-gloss outdoor black oil based enamel. Forget spray cans, they are best for killing insects (doesn't seem to matter what's in 'em either!), or stopping squeaks :)

You can get a really nice very subtle stipple kind of finish if you apply the same paint using a fine roller. I did my 1970 Chevelle street rod in Federal Safety Yellow with this technique and it looked great. The day after I painted it I was in a shopping center parking lot and another car buff pulled up and parked his custom rod pickup next to me and admired my paint job in the bright sun. He asked if I had clear coated it and I answered 'No, I only had one roller!" :)

Rob

[Thatch_Ear]

Beware the edges of MDF! A sponge. What ever you decide on get the edges sealed with what ever and then tell us how ya did it.
I have to get going on a Ultra Secret transmission line for the Texas Shootout in a couple of months.
Last year my unfinished MDF pissed the sponser off, so this year paint I must.

[gonefishin]

I wish I could find the post that dealt with this...I'll keep looking tho.

I am just passing on info what I remember of a post...you will still want to research this.

The gentleman stated that to get the best high gloss "piano" black finish...fill all screw heads with bondo...sand entire cabinet...seal/prime...then have an audtomotivve shop spray your speakers as they would a car...using Cadillac black automotive paint...then a couple coats of clear over it.

well...that's what I remember of the post...you may also want to try asking(or going thru the archives) at Pi Speaker Forum (http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/pi/bbs.html)

Keep us updated on what you find out and what you decide to do...thanks :)

[Rob]

Originally posted by Thatch_Ear
Beware the edges of MDF! A sponge. What ever you decide on get the edges sealed with what ever and then tell us how ya did it....<snip>

Thatch,

Several coats of clear thinned shellac seals the thirsty edges of MDF for application of paint just fine. Shellac is awesome as a sealer because it dries so fast it doesn't have time to sink in too far.

Rob

[Rob]

Originally posted by gonefishin
I wish I could find the post that dealt with this...I'll keep looking tho.

I am just passing on info what I remember of a post...you will still want to research this.

The gentleman stated that to get the best high gloss "piano" black finish...fill all screw heads with bondo...sand entire cabinet...seal/prime...then have an audtomotivve shop spray your speakers as they would a car...using Cadillac black automotive paint...then a couple coats of clear over it.

well...that's what I remember of the post...you may also want to try asking(or going thru the archives) at Pi Speaker Forum (http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/pi/bbs.html)

Keep us updated on what you find out and what you decide to do...thanks :)

Sealing screwholes with bondo, sealing, sanding, etc. I did all that on my horns. I didn't need a piano gloss black finish but if you do I'm sure this would be the way to achieve it including the trip to the automotive spray booth.

BTW, it is pretty much common knowledge that painting speaker cabinets black makes them sound better (this is why professional sound reinforcement systems are always black, they know) ...however going to exquisite detail polishing and clear coating may have diminishing returns on further sound improvement. ;)

Rob

[Wardsweb]

Man, and I thought it was just easier to upkeep when banging the stuff around while on the road. :dunno:

[Thatch_Ear]

Well the black certainly helps with that system diappearing act everyone wants so badly.(Man! I was watching this movie and like the system just disappearded and I could SEE those people up in the middle of my wall!!):D

[gonefishin]

;)

[Rob]

Originally posted by Thatch_Ear
Well the black certainly helps with that system diappearing act everyone wants so badly.(Man! I was watching this movie and like the system just disappearded and I could SEE those people up in the middle of my wall!!):D

Thatch,

That is exactly what I was after in my home theater setup and with painting the horns black I achieved it!

I was just listening to this great jazz CD the other night, dog tired after working on the telescope array all weekend with my students and I turned the lights off and became one with the recliner chair. The effect was amazing. I hadn't listened to these black speakers in the total dark before. The black makes them even better I'm sure because my eyes eventually got dark adapted and I could see the faint white of the actual screen indirectly illuminated by my led VU meters, yet I still retained the sensation that I could not identify the source of the sound. It was just there. Neat effect!

Click here to see my system http://www.audiokarma.org/forums//showthread.php?s=&threadid=87

Rob

[gonefishin]

Rob, to quote Harry Caray...HOLY COW...what an HT system...any chance of getting you to post your system in the Gallery forum?


d@mn nice!

[Robh3606]

Yeah works real well to seal and give a uniform finish for the base coat! Thanks for the tip!

Rob2:D

[Rob]

Gone,

Thanx for the compliment. As soon as I get a decent photo of my HT system I'll post it. I'm not quite done yet.

Rob

Originally posted by gonefishin
Rob, to quote Harry Caray...HOLY COW...what an HT system...any chance of getting you to post your system in the Gallery forum?


d@mn nice!

[Rob]

Hey Rob2,

Glad to help!

Rob

Originally posted by Robh3606
Yeah works real well to seal and give a uniform finish for the base coat! Thanks for the tip!

Rob2:D