Painting Cabinets | Get a Smooth Finish on MDF

Thanks for the stand off idea. Also I had always wondered about the electric sprayers.

thanks..🌷

Did you need to thin the paint or primer with the flexio 3500?

People in my CNC group recommended Shelac, sand, and then paint. Seems to work great. I wonder if primer is any different.

Zinser BIN is alcohol based not oil

can sanding sealer be used as a primer?

Personally, I'd always wear a mask when sanding untreated MDF. The formaldehyde used in the manufacturing process really isn't good for you if inhaled. Or in the US do you maybe use formaldehyde-free MDF?

Apply sanding sealer to the edges

What did you use for your filler?

🤣🤣

I tend to seal my MDF with Shellac or Sanding Sealer, but sealing primer works as well :)

I am preparing to paint MDF cabinet doors and drawer faces which were covered by plastic overlay. Everything is already smooth so can I just apply the primer and then paint?

I'm about to start re-painting MDF cabinets. The old paint is peeling bad. Any big tips about this workflow? I plan to sand away the old paint, use premium wood filler to smooth small areas, prime it with zinssers bin primer, sand it again, cover with cabinet paint using a paint sprayer I just purchased. Any tips help, thanks!

MDF is a carcinogen when breathed and skin contact - wear protection

Art ❤❤❤😂

Amazing video. Well done.

not to wear respirator while sanding mdf is quite reclkess, the mdf dust is a serious cancerogen/

Have you used the Flexio 5000?

What can you put on the cabinets for a shellac? After painting??

Very informative thank you!

What happened to your leg ?!?!?! 🙁

Thanks for sharing 😃
My experiance is that the choice of MDF should not be done due to price.
In Denmark where the rate on workmanship is his, the extra time and extra materials used is not worth the effort not the cost saving 😉

April, do you have any advice for spraying the edges with the final coat?
That to me is the hardest part as it is where you are most likely to get runs

That was great April.
Whenever I paint MDF it turns out rubbish
I can't wait to try some of your technicues

I don't know why anyone would waste their time with mdf for cabinets. I've never used it. I use it for door casing, base, shiplap, and other applications and love it, but not for cabinets.

I HATE CHIP BOARD AND MDF , THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN NATURAL WOOD AND IT LOOKS 100% BETTER THAN THAT OTHER CRAP , SORRY APRIL.

How long can expect painted and primed MDF to last if it used more ornamental than a practical product?

Doesn't the nails in your standoffs scratch the surface?

Here is a tip. For stand offs use inverted dixy cups to elevate your surface.

I hate mdf It’s useless if it gets wet Sawdust lumber

PVA sealer flat paint simple

I have a video on using JC on mdf edges. You might like it after you try it. Great video.

çok iyi bence

I used a two pack primer for my jobs

Hi yes good advice but please use a mask when sanding MDF is very carcinogenic and gets right into your lungs

Much simpler and quicker to use automotive hi-build primer in the spray can. A quick pass at close range on cut surfaces / chamfers leaves a hardcoat in just minutes. A quick follow up w/320 dusts off any errant nubs. You are done in minutes. Also use automotive “spot putty” for dents and dings. Much cleaner outcome than wood putty.

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.

Thanks, great video and tutorial, and those cabinets look great!

I got sick of MDF and use PVC boards. So much better. Finished look with no effort

Shellac is alcohol based, not oil based.

So what primer did you end up using?

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

do we really need the distracting background chimes?

Zinsser 1-2-3 every time...Americans have bigger sheds than a Brits house

Stop. Prime first before filling anything. Any imperfections will be obvious.

Yes, the 50/50 white glue/water is the way to go

If you are painting MDF, you might what to try MDO (Medium Density Overlay) which has a paper coating which takes paint a lot better. Furthermore, an alcohol based primer works great!

Use water resistant MDF. The resins bind the fibres together and prevent the “fluffy” edges, even after being routered. Of course the board is more expensive, but that is more than outweighed by the saving in labour.

The reason water based primers don’t sand well is because of the rubbery texture. Oil primers and paints dry hard but there is more flexibility in water soluble paints and primers