Would like to attempt Piano finish/high gloss

[JCLP]

Hello Foggers,
I would like to attempt to get a high gloss/piano finish on a piece of MDF. Any suggestions on primer, paint and process. Spraying paint wont be an issue it's everything after that I need help with. I have search the web, but there are so many ways, that it's hard to figure out what is the best. This is why I thought I would sent it out to the FOG.

Thanks,
JC

 

[bobfog]

Few coats of polyurethane and polish the final coat with a wool mop and polishing compound.

 

[Sparktrician]

Hello Foggers,
I would like to attempt to get a high gloss/piano finish on a piece of MDF.

 

No disrespect intended, but isn't that pretty much the same as putting lipstick and a tutu on a pig?  [scared]

 

[bkharman]

When I was at Festool Connect last year they had a price of mdf coated festool green and it looked like plexi!  They of course were using their polishing system (which I have no experience with) but it was impressive. I think they also had the Shinex who buff it up through the high grits and compounds.

Good luck and take some pics.

Cheers. Bryan.

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[mrFinpgh]

I watched a video some time ago where they prepped the MDF by skimming it with joint compound.  Beyond that, I'd guess you would just step through the grits and keep going for a long time.

 

[LooseSox]

Any exposed edges will need some serious sealing as mdf is rather thirsty. I try to avoid exposed edges as much as possible on my speaker builds by mitering all joins.

As for the finish, don't mess around with standard wood finishes on mdf as you'll negate the savings on the product with the labour involved in the amount of coats you'll need. Go straight to an automotive 2pk finish.

 

[Steve1]

I made an entertainment center of piano black over mdf.
But anything visible was Formica high pressure laminate rather than painted.  The proper code would be Formica #909-90 for polished black.    You can order it from Home Depot (will come in rolled up, so easy to transport home).    Only difficulty in getting it is that most HD employees will tell you "only the samples that are on the board can be ordered".  Might have go to a couple different stores or go back when a different associate is at the store (you get it from the kitchen department).  I used the laminate for edge-banding too, which results in a brown line the thickness of the laminate.  Not sure where to get gloss black proper edge-banding.  But careful application of a bit of Tremclad gloss black makes it almost invisible.    Make sure you arrange the laminate pieces so the trimmed edge is on a face that is normally not visible.
I did paint a few surfaces that are not really visible.  They say use oil based primer on mdf, but I used water based because that is what I already had.  I brushed several cotes of oil based gloss black on it, and tried polishing it out.  Never did look very good, but like I said it was not visible.  But I didn't have my ETS EC125/3 EQ back then.    There is a good video on You-Tube of guy showing how to polish with all the grades of paper and polishing compound available from Festool.

HD can order you a free sample of the laminate.  Just requires finding somebody who knows what the are doing.

 

[Holmz]

Mirka has a bunch of videos on this and sells all the compounds and papers up to 4000grit (or at least 2k)..

I thought Festool was using 3M ?

Both systems do the same thing.

 

[Pnw painter]

I'd consider using Fine Paints of Europe Hollandac. I know of a local painter that uses it with outstanding results. I believe he wet sands with 600 or 1000 between coats. He also uses several air scrubbers when he's spraying to prevent overspray dust from settling on the finish. 

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[Cheese]

I thought Festool was using 3M ?

That connection has certainly been ominously quiet.

 

[JCLP]

Here are two photos of my first attempt. There are some flaws, but that can be expected.The paint is BM Regal Select. I had a test panel with that paint on it. Thought I would try it. The second photo, you can see the clouds and blue sky. Kinda of cool.

Cheers,
JC

 

[Alan G]

So what was your process?