How To Paint MDF! Do this to your MDF for a perfect painted finish!

I use MDF a lot for projects and carving on my CNC machine, but the one issue I always have it painting it. in today's video, I'll show you how to prep you MDF fast and cheap for a perfect finish every time

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[VexLimenOfficial]

Been using a water and glue mix on MDF for years which is essentially a grain filler/sanding sealer. It's simply a mix of 5 parts water to 1 part water based glue, it gives the same results and is even cheaper than buying sealer. Just one light coat is enough, there's no swelling issues.

[henriks]

As a former cabinet maker and chief of spray-paint and surfaces at my old job. I recommend (for normal 22 mm MDF) sanding the edges (not surface) with 120, 150, 180 (in that order) before spraying primer. This is to get rid of saw and burn marks.

First ad one layer of primer to edges and back/underside, let it dry for a couple of hours, sand 70-80 % of primer off on the edge with fresh and sharp 220 paper (or sanding sponge is preferred). Make it smooth to the touch, leave the surface for now. Ad a second coat to edges and first coat to the top/front surface, let it dry over night.
Sand edges a second time until the edges feel smooth as silk (literary as smooth as silk) it does not take long. Use fresh sandpaper not old shit. Use a sanding-machine for surface do it by hand on the edges. For wider MDF such as 30 -40 MM a third or even fourth coat of primer is needed due to more pores. (Its in the process of making the MDF). Sand between every coat. On the flat surface of the MDF (no matter thickness) one coats of primer is sufficient before painting.

Put on one coat of paint, let it dry for 24 hours, sand with 220 lightly on the surface to flaten it. If you have a sanding machine use it on the surface not the edges. Then go more thorough over the edges one last time with a 220 sanding sponge, look for small dimples and fill them with fast hardening filler or acrylic filler if necessary before last coat of paint. On parts with paint all over (a front side and a back side, ex a door). Paint the back/under side first, let it dry for 12 hours, do the edges and then then front/top side at the same time. For a professional finish and with no grainy or foggy areas, you may want to mask the back/underside for ultra super result (due to over-spray on the underside), but remember to remove masking tape before leaving for the night as it leave marks if not removed. One last tip! Always start withe the least visible or least touched part/side of the workpiece and finish with the front/top and most visible edges for best result when painting last coat ;) I done correctly the edges should look as flat and just as smooth as the surface even though the edges have pores like a sponge.

The reason we use primer over anything else is the fact that is fills better, is made for sanding of and dries faster. This sanding sealer is new to me, but seem like a product for the same use I presume. Good luck.

[ChubakaSteven]

Had to come back to say this tip is a game changer! This makes such a huge difference when spray painting MDF, especially the end grain or any routered faces.

[BEdmonson]

Been using this method for a while, it's like magic! One other tip, if you find that your top coat is not compatible with the sanding sealer, shellac works nicely too.

[spamspasm]

This method solved a different problem for me. It's been really rainy lately and humidity has been over 90% the past 2 weeks or so. A lot of the mdf I had in storage started growing mold. Had to throw out a couple 4x8 sheets which sucked but was able to save the rest with a thin coat of a cheaper version of this product. Thanks! Glad this randomly popped up on my recommendations.

[genoquilaleo]

Just built a massive wardrobe for someone and it took me lots of coats to make it nice. This video is fantastic. I'm soo grateful

[blaster-zyxx]

This is great! Thanks. One trick I learned to get edges really smooth is to sand, then rub a little spackaling compound into the edge as a filler, the sand again and prime as you show here. You get a very smooth edge.

[WiredWorkshop]

Sanding sealer is so key!!! This is the trick I used to get an amazing finish on my desk!

[bullfrog]

Your video just changed my world. I have been trying to figure out how to paint the ends of MDF for so long. I can not wait to try this out.

[kenzakovich]

Worked perfectly. Will always choose this route moving forward.

[mitchd]

Zinser BIN Shellac based primer works very well too, and it works great on drywall patches too. Dries quite quickly so you can get to the topcoats without much wasted time.

[johnr]

I have been using the same method for a few years. I remember many people saying don’t use polyurethane. Ah but it works.
I also use it the harden the surface of unsanded plywood.

[supergoober]

I was taught to use this on solid wood end grain prior to staining. It’s trial and error on a test piece, first, but you’ll avoid the heavy, dark color where it would normally soak in. A great place to see if your cabinet maker knows this trick is to look at the top or bottom of your doors and the end of your drawers. Once you see it, you’ll always look for it.

[kennethamend]

I recently purchased my first home and decided to make my baseboards out of MDF of course in the bathroom and kitchen I use a different material. This information was very helpful... tomorrow is Saturday...the pup and I are getting busy. Thanks Again. God Bless

[foestgump]

This works so well! I already thanked you but I wanted to come thank you again. I use a lot of plywood and mdf to make signs. I tried using the sanding sealer on plywood before I painted and it saved me so much paint and time! The finish product was so much better by just applying one coat of sanding sealer.

[MasaCheez]

THANK YOU! You saved my custom built arcade cabinet project from looking like crap! I wish I had know this earlier in the project. Still, it looks amazing now and exactly what I was hoping for!

[joybidwell]

I am the worst at spray painting! I avoid it at all cost…..but now I can’t wait to try it again on both wood and MDF! Thank you so much!

[bmurphy]

I do the same process of sealing MDF, but I use alcohol based sanding sealer or thinned Shellac. Because that are both alcohol based products, they dray very fast and they seal the MDF very well.

[vansonmafeet]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have a project coming up that requires the MDF to be painted. I've tried painting MDF before and the results were less than expected. Can't wait to try this method.

[mtnjak]

This is great timing seeing this video. I had planned to buy plywood for my CNC spoil board permanent base. But my local hardwood dealer had hardwood veneered MDF for only $25 a sheet so...money talks! However, since I'm carving the machine logo into the base surface slats with a V bit I wasn't sure how to seal the MDF before painting the engraved logo. Now I do!