MDF Radiator Cover

[gbrunner77]

Hi All,

I have recently made a Radiator cover out of 18mm MDF and not sure how to paint it?
I have purchased some MDF Primer but am not sure whether to finish it with a brush, roller or spray paint.
I am also a little concerned about the paint withstanding the heat from the radiator…..any help would be brilliant!  [big grin]

 

[jmbfestool]

I wouldn't worry about radiator heat shouldn't be a problem. I have never had a problem any way.  I thought I might see slight yellowing/browning at the top eventually but nope.

I would go for spray if you can nicest finish.

MDF primer is just a rip off.  A oil based paint works lovely on MDF.
Jmb

 

[AlexThePalex]

Agreed with everything JMB said. MDF primer is BS. Any woodpaint works fine.

Spraying is best of course if you have the opportunity. It's the easiest and gives the best result. A roller can also be nice, but leaves a very fine effect resembling orange peel if you look closely. Brushing can be done good or not so good. If you do it good, you can have a very straight result with no brush marks. But that's something you have to learn and is not easy right away. A skill for the pro's. Most people end up with brush marks when they paint.

 

[VW mick]

I agree about the MDF primer .have never seen the need .I usually use an acrylic primer .and have had good results with a rad roller with a gloss sleeve using something like satin wood

 

[Wuffles]

I agree about the MDF primer .have never seen the need .I usually use an acrylic primer .and have had good results with a rad roller with a gloss sleeve using something like satin wood

I've "primed" MR MDF with emulsion before, just to blank out the colour. Seconded on the gloss roller sleeve with the top coats, leaves a lovely finish.

 

[jmbfestool]

I agree about the MDF primer .have never seen the need .I usually use an acrylic primer .and have had good results with a rad roller with a gloss sleeve using something like satin wood

I've "primed" MR MDF with emulsion before, just to blank out the colour. Seconded on the gloss roller sleeve with the top coats, leaves a lovely finish.

Emulsion is rubbish.  I was told by a member I respected here on FOG using emulsion was best way to go.  I listened and painted a few things. 

I found it just furs the MDF a lot more than Oil based also the paint doesn't go as hard so takes longer to get a smoother finish.

Then the worst thing after I finished final coat and was fitting the units I accidentally knocked into a panel I painted and the paint chipped clean off back to bare MDF.  I was shocked and disappointed.  To me it meant the emulsion hadn't bonded well enough.

The same member played a joke with me on FOG about something else.  I came to the conclusion he might of been taking the **** about using emulsion needles to say I don't respect this member any more.  I went back to using Oil based paints much better results and less sanding.

Jmb

 

[Wuffles]

Normally I'd let this go, but you sound so dismissive I'll double check.

You meant, "in my experience, emulsion is rubbish" right? And you are talking about MR MDF?

 

[AlexThePalex]

In my experience with MDF you do have to clean it VERY thoroughly before painting, because there can be a thin film of greasy residue from the production proces on it. I always do a first cleaning with an ammonia solution and right before painting a quick wipe with paint thinner. If you don't clean thoroughly, you can have unexpected results.   

 

[jmbfestool]

Normally I'd let this go, but you sound so dismissive I'll double check.

You meant, "in my experience, emulsion is rubbish" right? And you are talking about MR MDF?

No I meant it how I said it.  I think its rubbish end off.  I used it a lot on this one job and was finding it to be a poor method to seal MDF. 

This was on standard and MR MDF. 

After using it for a bit and finding it crap to use. I clicked and thought to my self to be fair emulsion is water based what does MDF do when it gets wet?! It furs up.  Even MR does it's still made out wood fibres which swell up when wet.

So I went back to oil base.

Jmb

 

[Wuffles]

Normally I'd let this go, but you sound so dismissive I'll double check.

You meant, "in my experience, emulsion is rubbish" right? And you are talking about MR MDF?

I think its rubbish end off.

So you recommend gloss straight onto the MDF to the original poster then? I'll have to give it a go, but with paints going to zero VOC, when they're all water based we'd better start investing in fine sandpaper.

 

[jmbfestool]

Normally I'd let this go, but you sound so dismissive I'll double check.

You meant, "in my experience, emulsion is rubbish" right? And you are talking about MR MDF?

I think its rubbish end off.

So you recommend gloss straight onto the MDF to the original poster then? I'll have to give it a go, but with paints going to zero VOC, when they're all water based we'd better start investing in fine sandpaper.

I didn't recommend a gloss paint as primer.    I said oil based.

You do what you like mate use gloss and invest in sandpaper.

I'll carry on using an oil based wood primer on all my MDF and birch etc.

Acrylic is fine but I find it clogs up the sander paper quickly.  So you might want to invest in sandpaper for acrylic paint.

 

[Wuffles]

Normally I'd let this go, but you sound so dismissive I'll double check.

You meant, "in my experience, emulsion is rubbish" right? And you are talking about MR MDF?

I think its rubbish end off.

So you recommend gloss straight onto the MDF to the original poster then? I'll have to give it a go, but with paints going to zero VOC, when they're all water based we'd better start investing in fine sandpaper.

I didn't recommend a gloss paint as primer.    I said oil based.

You do what you like mate use gloss and invest in sandpaper.

I'll carry on using an oil based wood primer on all my MDF and birch etc.

Acrylic is fine but I find it clogs up the sander paper quickly.  So you might want to invest in sandpaper for acrylic paint.

You are correct, I've always called oil based paints gloss, it's a very bad habit - I do it all the time.

The acrylic you're talking about is oil based? I was serious about the VOC content and companies shifting towards water based though. Isn't it inevitable that the oil based paints will die out?

 

[VW mick]

Well I've had good results with acrylic primer as I've said ( and it is water based )

But you do need to really make sure the edges are sanded properly first .and it needs to be left to dry properly before sanding between coats

 

[jmbfestool]

Normally I'd let this go, but you sound so dismissive I'll double check.

You meant, "in my experience, emulsion is rubbish" right? And you are talking about MR MDF?

I think its rubbish end off.

So you recommend gloss straight onto the MDF to the original poster then? I'll have to give it a go, but with paints going to zero VOC, when they're all water based we'd better start investing in fine sandpaper.

I didn't recommend a gloss paint as primer.    I said oil based.

You do what you like mate use gloss and invest in sandpaper.

I'll carry on using an oil based wood primer on all my MDF and birch etc.

Acrylic is fine but I find it clogs up the sander paper quickly.  So you might want to invest in sandpaper for acrylic paint.

You are correct, I've always called oil based paints gloss, it's a very bad habit - I do it all the time.

The acrylic you're talking about is oil based? I was serious about the VOC content and companies shifting towards water based though. Isn't it inevitable that the oil based paints will die out?

I have used water and oil based acrylic.

I haven't used acrylic much because of what I said above it clogs up your sand paper.  Even when fully cured the heat from the rotex can cause it to clog again. 

Not saying don't use acrylic on MDF I have gotten good results with acrylic.

Just find oil base paints easiest to use.

Yeah I know you was being serious about the VOC but at the moment the paints are available so im using them saying that I do like to try new things and I know using a different branded paint can make a big difference. 

I found that out when I bought a tin of oil based primer from a different brand because dealer had ran out what I normally buy. I started spraying and I quickly found out it was rubbish.  It didn't cover very well and it took a lot longer to set and I kept getting runs with it. 

 

[AlexThePalex]

Isn't it inevitable that the oil based paints will die out?

Perhaps. But not in our lifetime.