Tips for Painting Medium-Density Fiber Board

One of today's most popular building products for furniture and home accents is medium-density fiber board, more commonly known as MDF. MDF is created by using resin to bind together small particles of wood to form a flat, smooth board. It comes in varying thicknesses and is ideal for making cabinets, furniture and home accents in large part because its surface is completely smooth, making it easy to cut, drill, or machine. Because MDF is much cheaper than hardwoods, it is ideal for building on a budget.

Although building with MDF is relatively easy, painting the finished cabinets or furniture is a little trickier due to the porous surface of the MDF. Here are some tips for painting MDF that will help you get a nice even paint finish.

The major problem when it comes to painting MDF is that it is quite porous. That means that the paint soaks into the surface of the MDF which can result in a paint finish that is blotchy, uneven and unattractive.

In order to combat the porous nature of the wood MDF should always be primed. You can buy MDF that already has primer on it although it is more expensive than regular unfinished MDF. If you are using MDF that is not pre-primed you should always prime it before painting.

Start by sanding any rough spots or edges so that you have a nice, smooth surface. Wipe down the surface of the MDF to remove any dust leftover from the sanding. Using an oil based primer, apply two coats of primer to the MDF, allowing the first coat to dry completely before applying the second coat. Although water based primer tends to be easier to work with, the water from the primer can soak into the MDF and cause it to warp so generally it is a good idea to opt for oil based instead. Sanding lightly between the coats of primer will help to smooth out any brush marks. The primer not only will help keep the final paint finish from becoming blotchy, but will help the color of the paint that you use stay brighter and more true to its shade.

If you used an oil based primer be sure to choose oil based paint to go with it since latex or water based paint will not stick to an oil based primer. It is important to always match the type of paint you use to the type of primer that you used to ensure compatibility between the two.

When the primer is completely dry you can begin applying coats of paint allowing each coat to dry completely before you move on to the next coat. Apply as many coats of paint as necessary to get a smooth, even paint finish. For better results you may also want to consider lightly sanding between coats using very fine grit sandpaper. Once you have applied all the paint coats allow the item to dry thoroughly before using it.