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#1
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Smooth finish on MDF
Hi all,
I'm trying to achieve a smooth painted finish on MDF. I have a project where I'm cutting rings out of 3/4" sheets (each ring has a 17" external, 15" internal diameter). The rings are then glued together to create a tube. My previous experience of finishing MDF was priming (with a brush) a set of loudspeakers, sanding down and then spraying them with tins of paint. I had huge problems with the primer (International MDF Primer) as it never seemed to dry properly - attempting to sand it would result in dragging off tiny rolls of primer and it clogged the paper. I even bought a second batch, thinking the the first was contaminated, and left the piece to dry for a week. It still wouldn't sand. As I don't have a HVLP spray setup, could anyone recommended a primer that I can paint/roll onto the outside of these rings, that will sand well, so I can produce a perfectly smooth finish that I can spray paint? I'm in the UK BTW. Many thanks. |
#2
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"sploo" wrote in message news Hi all, I'm trying to achieve a smooth painted finish on MDF. I have a project where I'm cutting rings out of 3/4" sheets (each ring has a 17" external, 15" internal diameter). The rings are then glued together to create a tube. My previous experience of finishing MDF was priming (with a brush) a set of loudspeakers, sanding down and then spraying them with tins of paint. I had huge problems with the primer (International MDF Primer) as it never seemed to dry properly - attempting to sand it would result in dragging off tiny rolls of primer and it clogged the paper. I even bought a second batch, thinking the the first was contaminated, and left the piece to dry for a week. It still wouldn't sand. As I don't have a HVLP spray setup, could anyone recommended a primer that I can paint/roll onto the outside of these rings, that will sand well, so I can produce a perfectly smooth finish that I can spray paint? I'm in the UK BTW. Get a primer made for auto bodies...sands wonderfully. -- dadiOH ____________________________ dadiOH's dandies v3.06... ....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that. Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico |
#3
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Prime with a Zinzer BIN. It is shellac-based rather than latex. It sands
well. An oil-based primer would probably work well too, but it would require more time to cure before sanding. -steve "sploo" wrote in message news Hi all, I'm trying to achieve a smooth painted finish on MDF. I have a project where I'm cutting rings out of 3/4" sheets (each ring has a 17" external, 15" internal diameter). The rings are then glued together to create a tube. My previous experience of finishing MDF was priming (with a brush) a set of loudspeakers, sanding down and then spraying them with tins of paint. I had huge problems with the primer (International MDF Primer) as it never seemed to dry properly - attempting to sand it would result in dragging off tiny rolls of primer and it clogged the paper. I even bought a second batch, thinking the the first was contaminated, and left the piece to dry for a week. It still wouldn't sand. As I don't have a HVLP spray setup, could anyone recommended a primer that I can paint/roll onto the outside of these rings, that will sand well, so I can produce a perfectly smooth finish that I can spray paint? I'm in the UK BTW. Many thanks. |
#4
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Thanks dadioH.
I'm only familiar with spray cans of automotive primer (which I know don't work well on MDF). What type of product do you mean? Get a primer made for auto bodies...sands wonderfully. -- dadiOH |
#5
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I used an automotive sprayer in the past to spray latex primer. The
can specified no need to thin and it worked great. I ended up brushing the topcoat on because for this project the finish was too smooth. I would expect a little water added to latex paint and it would spray just fine. Of course an automotive sprayer creates a TON of overspray so be ready for a mess. |
#6
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A Zinzer BIN... interesting (sounds like a character from a sci-fi movie
The primer I was using was water based, so I'll have a look into these (Zinzer and oil) products. What are the brand names of these products in the US? Cheers, Sploo. "Stephen M" wrote in message ... Prime with a Zinzer BIN. It is shellac-based rather than latex. It sands well. An oil-based primer would probably work well too, but it would require more time to cure before sanding. -steve |
#7
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That's a bit of a problem - I can buy the paint in spray cans (for the
topcoat), but I have no equipment to spray a tin of primer. I suppose a HVLP system for home use shouldn't be *that* expensive... Cheers, Sploo. "Ray" wrote in message oups.com... I used an automotive sprayer in the past to spray latex primer. The can specified no need to thin and it worked great. I ended up brushing the topcoat on because for this project the finish was too smooth. I would expect a little water added to latex paint and it would spray just fine. Of course an automotive sprayer creates a TON of overspray so be ready for a mess. |
#8
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Zinzer is the manufacturer, BIN is the product.
As far as oil-based goes, anything that says "oil-based primer" or "Alkyd primer" should do. Just be prepared to wait a couple days for it to cure completely. -Steve "sploo" wrote in message ... A Zinzer BIN... interesting (sounds like a character from a sci-fi movie The primer I was using was water based, so I'll have a look into these (Zinzer and oil) products. What are the brand names of these products in the US? Cheers, Sploo. "Stephen M" wrote in message ... Prime with a Zinzer BIN. It is shellac-based rather than latex. It sands well. An oil-based primer would probably work well too, but it would require more time to cure before sanding. -steve |
#9
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"sploo" wrote in message ... That's a bit of a problem - I can buy the paint in spray cans (for the topcoat), but I have no equipment to spray a tin of primer. I suppose a HVLP system for home use shouldn't be *that* expensive... There is no need to be buying spray equipment to prime a little MDF. That's like using a Hummer to pick up a quart of milk at the corner store. It only makes sense if it's already parked in your driveway. -Steve |
#10
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on 8/2/2005 12:02 PM sploo said the following:
A Zinzer BIN... interesting (sounds like a character from a sci-fi movie The primer I was using was water based, so I'll have a look into these (Zinzer and oil) products. What are the brand names of these products in the US? Zinzer is the brand, BIN is one of their trade names, along with, I think, BullsEye which is a shellac. Good products. Last time I bought any it was at a Menard's but any of the big box stores (or local paint stores for that matter) will have it. It's a national brand rather than regional AFAIK. |
#11
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just to make it easier to find...the company the makes BIN and other
shellacs and primers is ZINSSER |
#12
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" wrote in message ups.com... just to make it easier to find...the company the makes BIN and other shellacs and primers is ZINSSER If you go to the nearest auto store you will find automaotive preimers in spray cans just like the paints you are using . Generally speaking the automotive end of finishes is years ahead of the furniture people ......I have been using a major finishing materials manufacture here [in the US] for years and still have big problems that they have no explanation or solutions for .....mjh |
#13
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on 8/2/2005 12:45 PM said the following:
just to make it easier to find...the company the makes BIN and other shellacs and primers is ZINSSER You're correct, I didn't catch the misspellng when I penned my reply. To make it even easier.... http://www.zinsser.com All you'd want to know about their product line and then some. |
#14
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"sploo" wrote in message news Hi all, I'm trying to achieve a smooth painted finish on MDF. I've been using spray can insert brand here enamel for the finish and spray can primer with great results. SH |
#15
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"sploo" wrote in message ... A Zinzer BIN... interesting (sounds like a character from a sci-fi movie The primer I was using was water based, so I'll have a look into these (Zinzer and oil) products. What are the brand names of these products in the US? Zinser. |
#16
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Thanks all, I'll see if I can find Zinzer products in the UK.
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#17
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Screwfix's MDF primer is OK and cheap. I've never been impressed with
International's paint products. Stick with MDF primers though. If you use something inappropriate and water based then it raises fibres on the surface and you'll never get it smooth again. |
#18
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Thanks dingbat.
I was considering trying Screwfix's product. It certainly can't be worse than the International stuff. You can get Zinsser B-I-N in the UK, so I've sent them an email asking about suitability. I've previously also tried spray cans of automotive primer (Halfords), but it's just absorbed by the MDF and doesn't actually do anything useful. Sploo. wrote in message oups.com... Screwfix's MDF primer is OK and cheap. I've never been impressed with International's paint products. Stick with MDF primers though. If you use something inappropriate and water based then it raises fibres on the surface and you'll never get it smooth again. |
#19
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"sploo" wrote in message ... Thanks dadioH. I'm only familiar with spray cans of automotive primer (which I know don't work well on MDF). What type of product do you mean? One in a can so that it can be brushed on. Get one with a lacquer base, dry rapidly. _____________ Get a primer made for auto bodies...sands wonderfully. -- dadiOH ____________________________ dadiOH's dandies v3.06... ....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that. Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico |
#20
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In article O6LHe.27801$Tk6.7916@trnddc02,
"dadiOH" wrote: Get a primer made for auto bodies...sands wonderfully. I have used automotive spot-putty (is lacquer based) on the end grain of MDF with great success. It is thin enough to crawl into the MDF a bit and sands like a dream. One of the brand names is 'Green Stuff'. |
#21
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OK, I'll have a search thanks. I'm also looking into Zinsser B-I-N (which
I've found I can get in the UK). Do you know of any products (brand names) of the primer type you mean? That way I can search for it (or similar products) in the UK. Cheers, Sploo. I'm only familiar with spray cans of automotive primer (which I know don't work well on MDF). What type of product do you mean? One in a can so that it can be brushed on. Get one with a lacquer base, dry rapidly. |
#22
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"sploo" wrote in message ... Thanks dingbat. I was considering trying Screwfix's product. It certainly can't be worse than the International stuff. That rather depends upon *which* stuff. International make a primer that is the best I have ever seen (for your purpose). It was originally formulated to fill the grain on Phillipine mahogany in marine applications...dries fast, sands very easily. Don't recall the ID# but the last time I checked (couple of years) it was running about $80/gal. -- dadiOH ____________________________ dadiOH's dandies v3.06... ....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that. Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico |
#23
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The only product I could find here in the UK was "International MDF Primer".
I used it to prime some MDF loudspeakers I built (with a brush). I left the primed boxes for a couple of days (at roughly 68 degrees F and low humidity). When I tried to sand it the primer clogged the paper, and came off in little rolls - basically it hadn't fully dried and was still slightly plastic. I (tediously) sanded all the primer off with a powered sander, and bought another batch (with a different batch code). This time I used a roller, then left the boxes in a drying room (around 80F) for a week. Guess what happened when I sanded it again? Yep. Same result. I did contact International to work out what went wrong. They sent me a catalogue. Thanks. What was the primer you've seen? Sploo. That rather depends upon *which* stuff. International make a primer that is the best I have ever seen (for your purpose). It was originally formulated to fill the grain on Phillipine mahogany in marine applications...dries fast, sands very easily. Don't recall the ID# but the last time I checked (couple of years) it was running about $80/gal. |
#24
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"sploo" wrote in message ... What was the primer you've seen? Sorry, but as I said I don't recall the number. Been too long. "International #62" sticks in my mind but I have no idea if that is right or not. I used to use it a lot when I had a yacht, both on it and other wood projects, but that has been a while back. Nowadays, I just use auto body primer if I want one that sands well. -- dadiOH ____________________________ dadiOH's dandies v3.06... ....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that. Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico |
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