How to paint MDF furniture at home?

How to choose the right paint

Universal enamel KUDO in a can

Painting compositions for MDF are produced taking into account the characteristics of the material - high absorbency. The right choice depends on the type of MDF façade covering:

• for MDF laminated with PVC film, polyurethane or alkyd enamels are suitable;

Tikkurila alkyd enamels based on synthetic oils or polymer resins

Polyurethane enamel is applied using airless and pneumatic spraying

• for those covered with natural veneer and for previously painted ones - oil or alkyd;

  Oil paint on wood is one of the most durable and airtight coatings

• for MDF facades with plastic or acrylic coating - oil, alkyd or polyurethane composites.

  Alkyd based paint for MDF furniture

For all types of coatings, water-based acrylic enamel and acrylic auto enamel in aerosol packaging are suitable.

Acrylic enamels produced by Belinka

Different types of paints for MDF have their own advantages and disadvantages. Thus, polyurethane compounds have high adhesion to the surface and after drying provide a coating that is resistant to mechanical stress, but require careful handling during the application process due to the presence of harmful substances. Oil and alkyd paints take a long time to dry and have a strong odor that lasts for a long time. Water-based acrylic enamels are safe, practically odorless and easy to use, but they are inferior to those listed above in terms of coating strength.

Automotive enamels are designed for metal surfaces; MDF is also suitable for painting

Paint and varnish materials for MDF are produced by almost all leading manufacturers and are present in the assortment of most construction supermarkets. Glossy, matte and semi-matte options are available for sale, differing in the degree of gloss of the finished product. If you cannot find special paint for MDF, you can use painting compounds for windows and doors, or for wood.

Technology for painting furniture facades made of MDF

This is not an easy job, requiring painstaking skill, little skill and extreme care. Everything is done in several stages, and the final quality of painting depends on the quality of each of them. If you do not plan to paint the panels yourself, but want to call a specialist, then check the price per m2 in advance. If you do the work yourself, then study the steps in more detail.

Tools

You can use various tools to apply paint. The most basic thing is a brush, roller or spray gun. Everything directly depends on professionalism, budget and personal preferences. Remember that a more optimal result is achieved using a spray gun or spray gun. Using a spray gun you can not only paint, but also prime.

Two types of pistols have been developed: electric and pneumatic. The latter operate on the basis of air, which is pumped by a compressor, and the former from a regular electrical outlet.

If you purchase a brush or roller, then pay attention to the markings, which indicate what composition they should be used for.

The equipment for painting has been selected, now you need to select auxiliary materials. Among them: sanding pad (Scotch-brite), sandpaper of various grain sizes, solvent, markers, masking tape, anti-silicone and degreaser. Do not forget about personal protective equipment: gloves, work clothes and respiratory protection (respirator or cotton-gauze bandage).

How to remove old coating

The topmost layer on MDF is most often a glossy coating (paint or varnish). If it is not removed, the new layer will not be able to take hold. Therefore, the top must be treated with the coarsest sandpaper. It is not necessary to remove all the paint, the main thing is to make the surface rough.

The old coating can also be removed using special removers; if we are talking about acrylic paint, you can use a solvent.

Another option for surface preparation is a paint dryer (torch). It can be used for polyester coating. The varnish cracks under the influence of high temperature, and then it can be easily removed with a chisel or spatula.

Grinding

To obtain a high-quality coating, you need a perfectly smooth surface. To obtain it, you must first grind the surface. Certain sanding steps require sandpaper of varying grits. P220-280 is used to prepare the base for primer, P320 is used to remove uneven ground, and P500 is sanding before applying paint.

For delicate and final sanding, use non-woven felt or Scotch Brite.

Painting

Painting MDF facades is not particularly difficult. When using a spray gun or gun, be sure to protect your respiratory tract. Keep the device at least 15 cm away from the façade. Please note that the movements should go in one direction so that the paint lays evenly.

Necessary materials

Materials and tools for painting MDF furniture

In order to paint MDF furniture at home, you will need:

• dye;
• primer;
• putty;
• solvent corresponding to the selected paint;
• masking tape;
• covering film.

Depending on the chosen painting method, you will need the following tools:

• sandpaper, mesh and sponge with different grain sizes;
• brushes, rollers, spray gun;
• narrow and wide spatula;
• stationery or construction knife;
• Screwdriver Set;
• protective gloves, glasses, respirator;
• clean rags.

You will also need patience and a firm intention to create a miracle.

Tools for painting furniture

Painting outbuildings made of MDF

It was previously said that using MDF for external cladding is not recommended, because under the influence of moisture, it will swell and collapse. However, the slabs can be used as temporary finishing or for country house extensions.

To increase the life of the panels, paint the outside. Important: do not skip the priming step so that after painting the surface retains its properties for a long time. When purchasing a primer, read the label, it is important that it matches the chosen type of paint. Primer is necessary to reduce the use of expensive paint by preventing stains that appear at the base.

1. Prepare the required amount of paint.
2. Clean the panel from dust.
3. Prepare your tools.
4. Wet the tool in paint and paint the surface.
5. Be sure to paint the areas where the slabs touch each other.
6. Wait until the paint dries and if one layer is not enough, then apply an additional one.

Source: fasadwiki.ru

Let's get started

Degreasing the treated coating

It is necessary to wash the parts to be painted well with a sponge soaked in vodka with the addition of detergent to remove dirt and grease. Remove the facades from the body. Remove all handles, glass and curtains. Seal cracks and chips. Any wood putty will be suitable for filling cracks.

Wood putty is needed if, after sanding, chips form on the surface of the part

Acrylic is preferred, because it is easy to apply, dries quickly and is easy to process. For plastic and acrylic coatings, it is better to use automotive putty. Narrow cracks are cut with the blunt side of a knife before applying putty. Putty is applied to the chipped areas “with a reserve”, in layers no thicker than 1 mm. Each new layer is applied after the previous one has cured.

Sanding MDF before painting

Elements are carefully polished. Sanding removes excess putty and gives the surface the roughness necessary for better adhesion to the future coating. For sanding we use sandpaper with a grit of 150-180.

Sanding the MDF surface using a surface sander

The putty chips are given the desired shape. It is better to use an abrasive mesh, as it clogs less. In hard-to-reach and embossed places it is convenient to use an abrasive sponge. Sanded facades are thoroughly cleaned of dust with a clean brush and vacuum cleaner.

What do you need?

To paint the cabinet, choose alkyd products. They are ideal for materials such as chipboard, MDF and chipboard. Such products level the surface, do not leave gaps, do not have a pronounced odor and dry quickly enough.

To update your furniture you will need:

1. Old polished cabinet (there are many polishing methods, choose the one that suits you best).
2. Acrylic putty and primer based on adhesion. These materials will be used to prepare the cabinet surface. It is important to use materials designed for wood flooring.
3. Solvent. With its help, old paint and varnish will be removed.
4. Degreasers. Needed to prepare chipboard for painting.
5. Flange cloth (if you don’t have one, any cloth will do).
6. Rubber gloves (if you take fabric ones, the paint will be absorbed and leave marks on your hands).
7. Scotch tape used in construction.
8. Sandpaper and glue.

The primer is the main character

Wood primer sample

This is not an exaggeration. Correctly selected primer not only provides reliable adhesion to the surface being painted, but also strengthens it, fills minor defects, prevents pile from rising and reduces absorbency, significantly reducing the consumption of the paint composition.

We prime the prepared areas of furniture

The most commonly used are two-component polyurethane and water-dispersed primer compositions. Water-based primers are not recommended to be applied over polyurethane and nitrocellulose primers, and polyester paints and varnishes are not recommended to be applied over them. There are no such restrictions for polyurethane primers. When choosing a primer, it is advisable to consult with a consultant at a hardware store.

Applying primer to the prepared surface

The primer must be applied in a clean, well-ventilated area in several stages. First, you need to prime the ends and relief parts of the elements, and then the entire element.

Applying primer with a pneumatic sprayer

After polymerization of the first layer, the product is cleaned of raised wood fibers and other small defects with an abrasive mesh or sponge with a grain size of 220-240.

Small roughness on the surface of MDF or “wood pile”

The polished surface is thoroughly cleaned of dust and primed a second time. Before applying the topcoat, re-sanding with 280-300 grit is required.

What should you pay attention to?

To determine the amount of paint material for cabinets, make a calculation based on the consumption of 2 layers (3 are possible).

Important! The presence of lead in the composition indicates that the paint is unsafe. Inhaled vapor containing lead is hazardous to human health. It is better to purchase alkyd paints, they are absolutely safe and dry several times faster.

Please note the date the material was released.

If you buy varnish, buy it transparent or with an imperceptible tint.

After choosing, test the product on a small piece of the stove. Each applied layer must dry completely. Only then can you decide whether this material is suitable for restoration.

Regarding decoration

Very often, wood boards are decorated with various patterns, ornaments, contrasting inserts and other elements. You can use special napkins for decoupage, straws, colored paper, newspaper and magazine clippings, and more.

It is important to harmoniously combine the overall color of the facade of MDF cabinets and the inserts.

You can combine contrasting colors, add painting, and if you know how to draw, you can create an exclusive design.

Using sanding, applying a patina or special products, you can provide furniture with a vintage look. That is, you can make antique furniture with your own hands.

Such restoration of sliding wardrobes made of MDF or ordinary wardrobes will look advantageous in any interior, and most importantly, restoration will not require large expenses. Using laminated furniture is very convenient in any home.

Photos of cabinets before and after restoration:

Now you know what and how to paint an old chipboard cabinet, which means you can get to work. This method allows you to restore not only cabinets, but also sideboards, cabinets, chests of drawers and other furniture.