problem spray painting MDF, advice needed

[logical man]

Hi, I'm in process of building a kids beside cabinet made out of MDF (12 mm)
I'm looking to spray it metallic silver.

I went down to homebase for the paint and found I also need a primer to...

I bought a spray can of "plasticote super primer (grey)" and a couple of
tins of "plasticote odds and ends silver spray paint"
I did a test on a spare piece of MDF and these are the results I have got:

I sprayed on the primer and let it dry for the 2 hours it states, then
applied a thin coat using the silver paint in even strokes, at this stage I
noticed dark areas and shadowing, so I let it dry for 24 hours.
Today I have applied a 2nd coat of silver spray paint and again let it dry
for a few hours, but the dark areas are still there and it looks terrible,
the paint is also easy to scratch off (not down to the mdf, just the silver)

I don't really know what to do next, my kids have a silver metallic bunk bed
and I would of liked to finish the furniture in metallic silver.
Does anyone know what paint and primer is best to use, I would need it to be
in spray form to give a even coating.

Help much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Peter

[John Flax]

"logical man" <noth...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:bg7b9u$m8a$1...@hercules.btinternet.com...

Metallic paints are notoriously difficult to apply. Did you shake the cans
thoroughly, as instructed?

[logical man]

yes I shook them for well over 1 min each.

"John Flax" <jo...@grangefh.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:bg7jgb$h9q$1...@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk...

[dorothy.bradbury]

Don't you have to seal the surface of the MDF first with say PVA?

You might also try phoning the paint tech support line on the can.
--
Dorothy Bradbury
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dorothy.bradbury/panaflo.htm (Direct)

[logical man]

ok contacted plasticote uk, and they said I need a clear sealer, after I
have applied the silver paint, I asked them about the patchy paint, and they
said they cant help me with that so I cant really do anything.
Unless anyone knows of another silver spray paint that doesn't do this on
MDF then I'm going to be stuck

Peter

"dorothy.bradbury" <dorothy....@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:O%PVa.361$lT2.2...@newsfep1-win.server.ntli.net...

[Arg]

I talked to my next door neighbour, who has just sprayed all his home-made
MDF kitchen cupboards in a silvery, textured paint, by Pasticote.
They all came out fine, he said he only primed the ends of the MDF, not the
surfaces. Does you plasticote spray allow it to be sprayed on direct?

My other suggestions then are:

Let the primer dry for a full 24 hours. Perhaps the primer wasn't fully
cured as it was too thick, or was reacting to chemicals in the MDF.

Change the primer.

Use a sealer before the primer.

Spray the silver paint on thicker.

Check you are not spraying anywhere damp,

Spray more than one coat of primer, to minimise any signs of shadows.

I made some speakers out of MDF, I sealed them with a mixture of varnish
(NOT the water based stuff) thinned with white spirit. They got about 8
coats as it soaked it up. I then primed with automotive primer, (Halfords
"grey" primer") and then sprayed in Halfords Satin Black automotive paint. I
still have them in my living room 10 years on, and other than the occasional
wipe with furniture polish, have required no further effort.

Keep trying, it is possible, you just need to vary your primer, or sealer or
something.......

A.

"logical man" <noth...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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[SI]

Would it be better to paint the primer on?
There is a primer made by "international" and it's called a MDF Primer.
It's sold in 750ml tins for about £8

Dunno if this would leave brush marks though, see what everybody else
thinks.

Peter

[NESTALAWRENCE]

firstly seal the mdf , then spray with a cellulose primer giving several
coats, leave to dry thoroughly then use matt black car spray hold well away
and drop coat the primed mdf this gives a mottled appearance. then using 800
grit wet or dry paper and a sanding block gently sand the black off to
reveal the grey primer underneath being careful not to go through it . This
keys up the primed surface and also shows up any pinholes in the mdf which
can be filled with polyester stopper . to top coat use a silver car paint
spraying in even coats .
hope this helps
"SI" <m...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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[NESTALAWRENCE]

> > Would it be better to paint the primer on?
> > There is a primer made by "international" and it's called a MDF Primer.
> > It's sold in 750ml tins for about £8
> >
> > Dunno if this would leave brush marks though, see what everybody else
> > thinks.
> >
> > Peter

to be honest its better to spray the primer on building it up in coats it
gives a lot better finish and a more even covering . I,m a joiner and this
is a question that i have been asked quite often

> >
> >
> >
>
>