Hello- I built soffits in my basement using MDF. All the cut edges of the MDF are either inside unexposed joints or are covered up by pre-primed moulding.
Can I prime the smooth outer surfaces of the MDF with just regular old PVA primer before I paint or is there something special that should be used with MDF?
My plan is to prime with PVA and then applya white latex paint. I plan on using an airless sprayer.
Thanks for any feedback...
Kevin
After a little more research, I'm thinking about using an oil based primer ( probably the 'odorless' Killz ) along with a Latex paint. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Kevin
Since nobody replied I guess I'll answer your question. Definitely do not use a latex primer. The water based product may "soften" the surface of the mdf and cause it to swell slightly. Not enough to cause real damage, but enough to make it a little rough. An oil primer, "cheap" will work, will seal the surface quickly and give you a good bite for your favorite topcoat.
Ed
cyberbob wrote on 14 May 2007 in group alt.home.repair:
I've been building custom shelves for a couple of years from MDF, and I always use latex Kilz. I've never had a problem. I put on one coat of Kilz, which dries in a couple of hours. I then sand it smooth and put on two finish coats of latex paint. Depending on the paint, I can get a mirror finish.
There's nothing wrong with using the oil-based primers, but strong smells are triggers for my wife's migraines, so I avoid them.
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