Painting Cabinets | Get a Smooth Finish on MDF

Things I Used in This Project:

Primers for MDF
-Zinsser's BIN is my favorite because it dries fastest and sands easiest. But I also like Kilz Original and Zinsser Cover Stain. All of these are solvent-based, so cleanup is a pain.
-Both Zinsser and Kilz have a few versions of water-based stain-blocking primers. They clog sandpaper more than solvent-based products. But I still use them when I want easy cleanup.
-Instead of primer, some people use water-based polyurethane (such as Minwax Polycrylic) to seal MDF. It dries fast and sands very well. But it's not really a primer and paint may not adhere to it as well.

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Welcome to the official April Wilkerson YouTube channel. I’m April and I’m the creator of Wilker Do’s. I'm not professional or have any training, so I just pick the project I want to tackle and figure it out step by step. On this channel you will find a variety of content like DIY home improvement, How-To’s, construction and more.

[johnheyden]

I learned 16 yrs ago that when you have cut edges of mdf it soaks up paint like a sponge. To keep that from happening you mix a 50/50 mixture of titebond glue and water and paint that on to the cut edges. Allow that to soak in and dry. Lightly sand that and now you have a surface that is sealed and it will accept paint just as nicely as the uncut paper surfaces!

[hydipieterse]

In South Africa we just buy sanding sealer off the shelve from most wood coating suppliers. No fancy mixes or applications. Just thin it 50/50 with solvent and spray paint or apply with brush or roller. Dries in minutes, sands super smooth and can apply paint straight to it.

[WNCworks]

I usually just play a propane torch lightly over machined mdf after sanding to eliminate fuzz. Catalyzed lacquer paints give the glassy smooth finish that some clients prefer, but I've also had requests lately for a brushed finish on painted cabinets to give a "handmade" look. Good video, keep em coming!

[steve.-]

Hello from England April, I’ve been a carpenter for 30 years and you can definitely get rid of the Fuzz, I work down the grades 120, 240, 320 and finish with 600 wet and dry which gives the edges a really smooth finish comparable to the face, I also use 600 to sand the primer and even 1000 for a super smooth finish, you should give it try I’m sure you’ll be pleased 😊.

[dansaville]

Watered down wood glue works well for sealing the edges. It also seems to toughen up the corners. I usually end up wiping a thin layer across the faces with a plastic spreader as well. It beats mdf soaking up all your paint.

[raymondbunkofske]

Just a note, Zinser is a tinted shellac with an *alcohol* base and typically dries in 10-15 minutes for sealer coats. Shellac has been my favorite sealer for years.

[mcseforsale]

Just for fun: I build arcades out of 3/4" MDF and the best way I've found is to mix 1:5 wood glue to water. Simply use a foam brush on all your cuts. You'll notice that the glue/water mix is a bit bubbly off the foam brush. The bubbles will disappear as the water medium carries the wood glue into the MDF. Instead of a fuzzy finish, you'll end up with a rock hard surface made of the fuzz and glue. Next, just hit it with 120g and the edges and the cuts will me much harder and will resist denting, which the primer won't be able to do. If you want it smoother, remember that the water has allowed the glue to seep into the MDF so, you have a bit for sanding left. I use this technique since I install t-molding to all the arcade edges which requires a 1/16" slot cut in the middle of the 3/4" edges (scariest router bit I own). This allows more support and resists denting even though the 3/4" has been halved with a 1/16" slot in them. I didn't create this technique, I learned it. But, I try to spread it around as much as possible.

[VmanJeff]

Actually I’m in the middle of this right now and was questioning the procedure I came up with to paint mine. They will have stained wood pieces together in the frame so I couldn’t assemble then paint. I’d never get the edges the wood slides into cleanly. So I’m painting disassembled MDF frames I made and once assembled I can sand the glue and mess off the face and repaint as the centers are inset. But the edge the centers slide into shouldn’t need repainted so no paint on the inserts! But prepping the MDF with Zinsser and then sanding all the pieces in prep for the kettle black finish I began to wonder if I was messing this up. Found your video and see you do yours the same way. I too was worried about the edge fuzz but figured the Zinsser would fill that and sanding would make it smooth. And you confirmed this for me. Thanks for the video!!

[seanmolloy]

I've been painting for 25 years and I have to say this is the most comprehensive and correct video on how to do a project like this. My only critique would be MDF is absolute garbage and cabinets it looks good in the short term but it doesn't hold up in the long term I've had to repair so many older MDF cabinets because they can't handle the long-term abuse.

[craighansen]

Thanks for showing the sprayer. I have looked at many airless spraying systems and been warned most don't work very well with acrylics. That Wagner looks pretty smooth.

[utubewillyman]

Finished my MDF cabinets in August using your methods and it was a great success. I had a good result using Zinsser BIN shellac-based primer. I have become a huge fan of shellac. It's like painting with liquor-infused milk. You almost want to drink it. The dried texture is great and paint really adheres to it. I don't have a sprayer, so I used flocked rollers. But yeah, cleanup is a nightmare. When you're done for the day, it's better to seal up your roller inside your shellac can. Then my topcoat was Benjamin Moore Advance. Your method is great--the only thing I might suggest is using tack cloth to get off every speck of dust between coats.

[JT_]

Watched “Assembly Required” and was hoping it would be renewed, then I stumbled on “More Power” and have binge watched it. I like it better because you have a greater role and get much more screen time. You are great in front of the camera. Sorry, Tim, but April has it.

[theessentialguideforblokes]

Perfect timing April, thank you. I’ve just built some built in wardrobes in our bedroom and am making the doors from mdf! Needed this as a sanity check to save ruining hours of work!

[vincentmcclelland]

BIN primer is great for more than just MDF, prime, light sand with 320 or 400, and wipe down, and your ready for most any paint

[woodworks]

If you want a perfect edge finish, you can also get paintable iron on edging made for MDF. I've used it a few times, it's amazing stuff and very cheap.

[just_megan_elle]

Thank you! I am flipping some old mdf nightstands and they had the classic water damaged bubbling on the finished layer. I sanded them down but they still had the fuzziness. They are now primed and ready to be sanded again. Thanks again!

[MarkK]

A lot of great tips. Thank you April for taking the time out out of your busy schedule.

[RandyShirbroun]

Oil base is oil base. It takes longer to dry. Water base raises the grain more. More sanding after priming. Shellac is alcohol base. It drys quickly and can be recoated after 15 minutes or so depending on humidity and air temperature.

[arron]

April. I absolutely love watching a laundry room make over as I’m from the United Kingdom and it’s not often you see a laundry room unless you have some good money behind you.

[amerjamel]

I thank you for your compliments - you are really a working woman who is useful to yourself and others without compliment - and a woman with a good heart - and I thank you for your work that you provide