Laminate doesn't play well with all primers and paints, only those specially formulated to adhere to its picky surface. If you opt for a primer, choose a bonding primer tenacious enough to stick to laminate (view example on Amazon), and then top it with an oil- or latex-based paint after the primer has cured.
Carefully fill and sand any dents, bashed corners or chipped edges with a wood filler. After that, apply two coats of our Multi Purpose Primer. This will give your MDF and laminate furniture a really good base and help the paint to stick.
You can paint the cabinets with oil-based paints, acrylic paints, or melamine paints once they have been primed. Moisture-resistant materials in the paint make Melamine paints ideal for painting laminate surfaces, since they are just right for the moisture and steam that are so prevalent in kitchens.
The least expensive option is painting laminate cabinets. Laminate is not an ideal surface to paint, but it can be done.
The best paint for MDF board is Oil-based paint. Oil-based paints are common and will work with any solvent-based primer on your MDF. Remember that you need to use paint thinner with oil-based paints. The paint thinner is also used to clean brushes and trays.
Do I Need to Apply a Primer Before Painting MDF? Yes. While MDF is versatile and easy to work with, it doesn't like moisture. If any gets into the wood it can swell and warp.
You can use both oil-based paint and water-based paint on MDF. In general, while oil-based paint has traditionally been higher quality than water-based paint, todays technology means that water-based paint is just as good.
A sure way to recognize wood laminate is when the grain does NOT follow through your piece. Wood Veneer is a sheet or thin layer of 'quality-natural-hardwood' that is adhered to a lesser quality wood surface. Wood Veneers give the impression of a more desired quality wood without being as costly.
Laminate Cabinets
This process leaves a completely smooth surface that does not show any seams. The lack of seams around the door's joints can be a clear indication that your cabinet doors are a laminate material.
INSL-X STIX Waterborne Bonding Primer is one of the best primers for laminate furniture. This primer is made specifically to bond to surfaces that are hard to coat, and will give you a smooth, level finish.
Laminate doesn't play well with all primers and paints, only those specially formulated to adhere to its picky surface. If you opt for a primer, choose a bonding primer tenacious enough to stick to laminate (view example on Amazon), and then top it with an oil- or latex-based paint after the primer has cured.
Prime the MDF with a solvent-based primer, such as Zinsser (buy online) or KILZ (buy online). Avoid water-based primer, as it may cause the wood fibers to swell, resulting in a surface that appears to have a raised grain (no matter how much effort you put into sanding).
Apply a coat of oil- or lacquer-based MDF primer. Due to the existing paint, one coat should be sufficient. If you plan to paint the bookcase a significantly lighter color than the previous paint color, however, you may need to apply a second coat of primer. Allow four to six hours drying time between coats.
With laminate or wood veneers laid over the existing cabinet boxes, you can change the style, color, wood type—even the associated historical era.
You can sand, prime and paint laminate as if it were a solid wood piece of furniture! It's easy to skip the sanding step, because sanding is a drag… but it's especially important with laminate. Because it's often somewhat glossy-looking, and important to sand it down until the finish is very dull before priming.
You can use a wood filler to fill any holes or dings that are present. Inadequate adhesion will ruin your new paint job. Good-quality wood glue and a clamp to hold the laminate against the core is a good way to repair laminate coating that is peeling.
Can you paint veneer cabinets? You sure can! The key, like for any painted project, is in the prep and choice of primer and paint. Proper cleaning to remove all the grime and dust, sanding the right amount, and using the right adhesion-promoting primer can make a huge difference in the durability of the finish.
The main difference is that veneers comprise thin layers of wood that are pressed on a plywood base while laminates are manufactured by pressing together layers of flat paper and plastic resins under high pressure.
good advice, acrylic primer undercoat will give you a much quicker job, any cutting or sanding of mdf should be done while wearing a dust mask.
For sealing your MDF surfaces, we would recommend the use of our Kilz Original oil-based primer. This product should be able to properly prime and seal your project and offers the versatility of being top-coated with a latex paint.
For a smooth finish, you need to sand the edges of MDF down, but first, lightly sand the surface. A lightly sanded surface will give the MDF board a 'key' that the paint can cling to. Then wipe away any dust with a soft cloth. I would avoid wetting the cloth as MDF sucks up water, which causes swelling.