Replies

1. 
   TLE | Sep 13, 2010 07:55pm | #1

   Start with a shellac product

   Use Bin (a white pigmented shellac) as a primer coat. It will dry fast and hard .

   I would either use Floetrol as an additive to latex enamel or use an oil base product for the finish coats. You want the finish coat to level out smooth and Floetrol will do that to latex very well.

   Terry 

1. 
   CAGIV | Sep 13, 2010 09:10pm | #2

   We've been using Water Borne Ben Moore Satin Impervo lately.  I'll second a Bin as a primer, a water based primer will cause the MDF to "fuzz up".  If you seal it with Bin it has less of a tendance to do so.  We use Ben Moore's extender when either spraying or rolling/brushing the final quote.

   What I like about the water borne is it can be touched up down the road eaiser than their oil based Impervo.  The oil based will yellow over time and it doesn't take long to start that process.  Within a year the same color will not blend in for touch up using the oil based in my experience.

   http://www.benjaminmoore.com/bmpsweb/portals/bmps.portal?_nfpb=true&_windowLabel=contentrenderer_1_7&contentrenderer_1_7_actionOverride=%2Fbm%2Fcms%2FContentRenderer%2FrenderContent&contentrenderer_1_7cnp=public_site%2Farticles%2Fproduct_articles%2Fpa_ind_thinners&contentrenderer_1_7np=productcatalog%2Fproduct_pages%2Fpaint%2Fprd_518&_pageLabel=fa_productsspecs

2. 
   DanH | Sep 13, 2010 09:12pm | #3

   You definitely need a primer, and it definitely should not be water-based.

1. 
   sapwood | Sep 13, 2010 10:19pm | #4

   Water based primer is OK for mdf

   I've primed hundreds of square feet of mdf with water based primers and have never had a problem. Sure there is a bit of fuzzing up but that's what 320 grit sandpaper is for. The hassle of using oil primer is huge as far as I'm concerned. Bin primer is very good.

   If spraying the mdf one can also use tinted water borne lacquer. Homestead Finishing has a nice one by Target Coatings. 

1. 
   DanH | Sep 13, 2010 10:36pm | #5

   Standard BIN is shelac (alcohol) based, not water based.