Painting MDF?

BlueChariot · Apr 6, 2011

When I get my box built, I'm considering painting it like I did the last one I made instead of getting it carpetted. I sprayed it with rubberized canned undercoating from Walmart and then cut out the cardboard Boss logo (since I had boss subs and a boss amp) and used it as a stencil. I want to paint the next one with the same style, but don't want to bother using undercoating (which I used because people's feet were on the middle when riding in jump seats). Whats a good but affordable black paint I can use that takes well to MDF?

Last box (styling example):

Simple but I liked the results.

Grey_04 · Apr 6, 2011

any good paint will work for mdf. if your worried about the paint sticking I'd seal it with a couple coats of primer first that mdf is like a sponge with paint or stain. then most indoor latex paint would be fine.. you could even use the cheap $1.25 spray bombs from wally world...

BlueChariot · Apr 6, 2011

The undercoating took really well, the can just ran out quick and the damn stuff costs about 5 bucks after tax. In the end I might go ahead and spring for the undercoating because I know it will take pretty well but as far as multi-coat paint jobs, I'd worry about screwing it up as I'm not the best painter. That undercoat was easy to spray evenly tho.

Grey_04 · Apr 6, 2011

just take your time and don't rush it and it should go on smooth,,

BlueChariot · Apr 6, 2011

On second thought I think I'll go wiht the undercoating, goes on thick in 2 good coats, is obviously pinatable, and I just took into consideration it shoudl protect agaisnt this southern humidity, or if i ever have moisture problems due to a leaky back window like I had to fix on my last Ranger.

RangerFabWorks · Apr 6, 2011

black texture paint works well too. so does rustoleum hammertone. its like 10.00 a quart at home depot. and goes on nice and thick

BlueChariot · Apr 6, 2011

I have no access to a spray gun and i deffinitely dont want to attempt painting it with a brush.

RangerFabWorks · Apr 6, 2011

OK. then its really up to you.

tylork92 · Apr 8, 2011

regular spray paint sucks on the cut edges of MDF. you need to seal em up with something like some wood filler or even smear some wood glue on the ends when you build it. wood glue is sandable so its all good.

BlueChariot · Apr 8, 2011

I did notice a little raggedy flappyness on the corner edges after i painted the last one with undercoating. I honestly don't mind it not being perfect, just having an even coat on it.

I've decided to go with the undercoat, even tho I will probably have to buy like 6 cans for the whole thing.

killj0y · Jun 23, 2011

Fiberglass or bondo on the outside and then sand and paint would prob look real nice that way.and protect against almost anything. Plus a cutout gasket of some sort for the sub and terminals.

88_Eddie · Jun 23, 2011

i used MDF all the time during college. i majored in product design and we always had to make functioning models on stuff we were designing. i made an entire cart out of MDF one semester that was supposed to be used in a restaurant kitchen. paint the entire thing with kilz first. it'll seal it up and fill in any of the holes. if you wanna fill in any cracks, i'd look into using bondo. just dont pile it on too thick. sand down the kilz and then spray paint it, the paint will look MUCH better. i'll see if i can find a pic

Painting MDF?

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