Advice Please

[turningnut]

Hi all...

It's been a long while since I've been on the site due to health problems. Heck I still have a soft cast on my right hand because of a surgery I had last Thursday...So needless to say, haven't had much time in the shop. I did get a chance to finish a piece by Toni Borghout in the other magazine. I completed it last week before the surgery. It was done in 3/4" MDF and I must say, it was my first time cutting this material and I really liked it. I used a #5 Precision Olsen Blade to cut it and I think it worked well. Now for my queston...If I want a solid color on this piece, what is the best way and finish it, including sealing...Help, y'all know me and finishing...LOL

Thanks for looking and any advise would be appreciated...I did try a search and didn't come up with anything much.

Hope-Dream.jpg

[wood-n-things]

Mike,
Great job. Did you go through more blades using the mdf?
I use any quality sealer and then acrylic paints or even a spray paint will work..but I would seal it first..I'll bet we get several Ideas on this one.

[Cutting Cathy]

Sorry Mike, I don't have any advice, just wanted to say it's good to see your still alive and kickin'!!!

[turningnut]

Mike...Do you use a spray sealer or brush on?

Thanks Cathy....I'm still alive, but not kickin much with my back...

[wood-n-things]

I use brush on.
Masterchem Industries, Inc. - KILZ General Purpose

[turningnut]

Sorry I didn't answer your question Mike but I only used one blade for the whole project and it's still on the saw to work some more...

[wood-n-things]

Mike,
is okay. I forget stuff all the time..what was the question? LOL@me...
I had heard others complain and I have found that mdf dulls the blades much faster so congrats on using one blade that was quite a bit of cutting. Nice clean cutting I might add.

[Forester21]

I would use a spray primer rather than brush just because of all the openings etc. If you can't find Kilz in a spray can, any clear sealer/finish should work. Then a couple coats of spray paint.
Would love to see it when you get the finish on too!
T

[sawdustus]

Welcome back. I would either dip it, if you have a large enough container, or give it a spray coat of dewaxed shellac to seal it before either a clear topcoat or paint. For spraying, I use my spray box, an old carton with one side removed. I hang the piece from a bent paper clip and spray away.

george

[jim_mex]

Hi Mike - Nice cut, hope you didn't find the project too dusty - this is one big drawback with MDf and that dust is really fine. I use MDF quite a lot and for finishing you can't do much worse than follow our friend JohnB's advice.

Seal with a light grey stopping/primer - the thick pasty type and sand back to a smooth finish. Give two or three coats of acrylic colour of your choice, cut back with fine sanding and make sure you mop away all dust. Finish with a couple of coats of acrylic transparent top coat. You can apply the primer and colour coats by brush if you wish but try to spray the transparent coats.

If you need more concrete info try pm-ing John - he's the man when it comes to MDF!

Hope you recover from the surgery soon mate. take it easy!