Covering MDF

[Brandt in western Canada]

MDF is plentiful and cheap and I was wondering if anyone has any interesting tips about covering it with stains or dyes to give it a more natural look (if that is possible) Faux finishes?

Comments?

[Rumpty]

Paint

[B a r r y]

If you're going for a real "viewed from a distance" or "stage prop" look, gel stains and "graining", such as can be done to fiberglass, would probably work.

For the most part, I'm with the others, PAINT IT!

Painted correctly, it's hard to tell it from painted wood.

Barry

[mp]

You can try to darken it with a Danish oil type of finish then topcoat with a clear finish. Coupled with SS, aluminum, or black hardware it gives a modern "industrial" look to cabinet doors, etc.. One of my clients built a hi-tech campus and made extensive use of MDF and aluminum throughout. It looks great.

[Leon]

More natural what? I think the best you can do is natural looking painted wood or natural looking painted steel.

[Bay Area Dave]

paint.

dave

Brandt > MDF is plentiful and cheap and I was wondering if anyone has any interesting

[Ron Magen]

Brandt, I both agree . . . and disagree . . . with Barry.

I made a movable Router Table some time ago. The carcass, including the hinged front door, interior partitions and deflectors, and bit holding sliding shelf are made from 3/4 in MDF.

While the inside is painted with two coats of White sealer {for brightness}, the exterior is finished with an Acrylic, 'Nantucket Blue', paint. Bottom 'kick plate' trim is Mahogany stained Poplar. The top is made from a 3in thick piece of a 'rescued' 'woodgrain Formica' kitchen table. While not exactly 'fine furniture' it all goes together quite well. Even close up, with a couple of coats of inexpensive paint {carefully applied with a cheap foam brush}it looks great and stands up to the 'rough & tumble' of a shop.

Regards & Good Luck, Ron Magen Backyard Boatshop

"B a r r y" wrote SNIP

[CW]

Paint.

[Pat Barber]

Cover it with :

(1) Pa> MDF is plentiful and cheap and I was wondering if anyone has any interesting

[LonE]

then again you could use a laminant ,they come in several colors and wood grains and very durable

[Pat Barber]

I prefer the laminates, but the guy wanted options...

Paint is still the least amount of pain...

L> then again you could use a laminant ,they come in several colors and

[Randy Chapman]

I made a changing table and just coated with oil-based polyurethane. It's an ultra-modern look, but fits nicely in the right place. Otherwise, paint it, veneer it, or try to find some of that woodgrain paper that is put on particleboard furniture (search for woodgrain contact paper?)

--randy