Blackboard paint and a suitable substrate

May 19, 2011 8 Replies

I've used blackboard paint directly on plaster before with ok results but I want to make one to fix to the inside of a panelled door.



I happened to catch an episode of "How it's Made" the other day on TV (Quest) and they showed a blackboard being made a metal (unspecified) surface bonded to a ply backing and then sprayed with blackboard paint.



Plywood especially from the sheds has a really crap surface finish that even a lengthy spell with a sander probably can't fix so I was thinking of a similar approach to the commercial ones shown on the tv.



Would I be better with mild steel, aluminium or something else, maybe mdf bonded to a plywood backing?



Any recommendations for blackboard paint?



Its steel, allows magnets to stick.

MDF unless you need the steel.

You can buy blackboard paint so I would use that.

Yup, that's what I used when I did one for the kids. nice smooth surface.

Blackboard paint - what ever is in the shop, which will most likely be International Paints version it seems

The shiny side of hardboard is a good stopgap.

MBQ

If you want to use plywood rather than the much smoother MDF then a good smooth surface for paint can be achieved by using car body filler applied with a steel scraper and sanded down afterwards.

If you use an angle grinder for the sanding (not really recommended unless you like a rustic finish) you will have managed to use the two universal uk.d-i-y solutions to all problems in one project.

Did you really mean to say that?

It's dennis. I expect the medication is wearing off.

Yes.

But to be more specific, this looks good

formatting link
claims to make stuff like MDF magnetic and black.

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required