I am wanting to get a slightly white-washed look on a desk that I am making
primarily from MDF. I am not too experienced or skilled at painting, so I
am seeking any advice or comments.
Some of the immediate questions that come to mind are oil or water based?
Brush or sprayer (I have a wagner)? Primer or not? Number of coats and
treatment between (such as sanding)? And of course, how to cerate the washed
effect while maintaining a durable and smooth finish.
Again, I would appreciate any help.
--
Alan Rudson
[email protected]
Go ahead, paint it. It takes it beautifully.
Rudson Family wrote:>I am wanting to get a
slightly white-washed look on a desk that I am making
>primarily from MDF. I am not too experienced or skilled at painting, so I
>am seeking any advice or comments.
>
>Some of the immediate questions that come to mind are oil or water based?
>Brush or sprayer (I have a wagner)? Primer or not? Number of coats and
>treatment between (such as sanding)? And of course, how to cerate the washed
>effect while maintaining a durable and smooth finish.
>
>Again, I would appreciate any help. Rudson
>[email protected]
>
Ramsey <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I believe tht you have to seal MDF first or it will absorb water
> (paint) like crazy, swell and just be a mess. Ask your local paint
> dealer. Someone here is sure to help.
This isn't true. I've made a lot of bookshelves out of MDF and never
had any swelling when it was painted. It will swell when it gets wet,
but seems like it happens more when (what would be) the endgrain gets
wet.
> I am wanting to get a slightly white-washed look on a desk that I am
making
> primarily from MDF.
By white-washed I assume you mean pickling... A white semi-transparent
pigmented finish. I don't see why you want to see MDF at all. Perhaps
painting with a base color, and then use a glaze (think of glaze as a
clearish paint that you can add as much pigment as need to make it it as
opaque as you would like).
>I am not too experienced or skilled at painting, so I
> am seeking any advice or comments.
>
> Some of the immediate questions that come to mind are oil or water based?
Oil. It dries hard (if you let it cure fully, which can take a week or so if
you are reallt particular... longer is better) therefore, it is easy to sand
out surface imperfections between coats (dust pickies, drips or raised
grain).
Latex (water base) is like a plastic coating it remains flexible, but
doesn't sand. This is preferable for an exterior application where moisture
changes are more extreme and the wood will move more, hese the coating has
to be more flexible.
> Brush or sprayer (I have a wagner)?
Good spayers can do nice work. Wagner is not a good sprayer... you can do
just as good a jub with less fuss with a brush.
>Primer or not?
Sure.
Number of coats
What ever it takes to get the coverage you want.
> treatment between (such as sanding)?
Yup... I find a cabinet scraper makes very quick work knocking off any nibs.
>And of course, how to cerate the washed
> effect while maintaining a durable and smooth finish.
See above
>
> Again, I would appreciate any help.
> --
>
>
> Alan Rudson
> [email protected]
>
>
On Tue, 19 Aug 2003 03:32:56 GMT, "Rudson Family" <[email protected]>
wrote:
you can get mdf in clear to stain or white to vernish i buy mine here
http://www.screwfix.com
>I am wanting to get a slightly white-washed look on a desk that I am making
>primarily from MDF. I am not too experienced or skilled at painting, so I
>am seeking any advice or comments.
>
>Some of the immediate questions that come to mind are oil or water based?
>Brush or sprayer (I have a wagner)? Primer or not? Number of coats and
>treatment between (such as sanding)? And of course, how to cerate the washed
>effect while maintaining a durable and smooth finish.
>
>Again, I would appreciate any help.
I have always had trouble with MDF soaking up nonoil based finishes like a
sponge and have primed with Kilz before painting. Makes a really nice slick
finish but a fragile one that scratches easily. but if you are going with
white anyway it wouldn't show the scratches.
"Rudson Family" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am wanting to get a slightly white-washed look on a desk that I am
making
> primarily from MDF. I am not too experienced or skilled at painting, so I
> am seeking any advice or comments.
>
> Some of the immediate questions that come to mind are oil or water based?
> Brush or sprayer (I have a wagner)? Primer or not? Number of coats and
> treatment between (such as sanding)? And of course, how to cerate the
washed
> effect while maintaining a durable and smooth finish.
>
> Again, I would appreciate any help.
> --
>
>
> Alan Rudson
> [email protected]
>
>