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Subject Topic: mdf table Post Reply Post New Topic
Personsorenlorensen
21/7/2014 at 2:23pm
 Location: Peak District
 Outfit: 5m Bell View sorenlorensen's Profile View Profile   Reply to sorenlorensen Reply   Quote sorenlorensen Quote  
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I have a bare mdf table for our bell tent and I just wanted to know what I should paint it up with to properly seal it.... will regular oil-based undercoat work or will it not 'stick' properly to the mdf?
I know this perhaps a little off topic for this forum but I know that lots of you are very knowledgeable and a lot more practical than me!
thanks in advance for any help
jo


Personianclose
21/7/2014 at 2:32pm
 Location: None Entered
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This works well to seal the surface.


Personsorenlorensen
21/7/2014 at 2:50pm
 Location: Peak District
 Outfit: 5m Bell View sorenlorensen's Profile View Profile   Reply to sorenlorensen Reply   Quote sorenlorensen Quote  
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ah I didn't realise there was a specific product for it. That is really helpful, thankyou!


Persondavid8858
21/7/2014 at 4:14pm
 Location: Teesside
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I don't know if you have a Boyes store near you. They sell plasticated fabric on a roll suitable for making table cloths with.

I removed the supplied top of our caravan table and replaced it with some much lighter and slightly smaller MDF and then stapled this stuff too it. Its easily washable and you get to pick any fabric pattern they've got so we use a cheesy red and white check.

Something like this

Its only about 8 quid a metre in Boyes.

-------------
Best Regards

David


PersonDeserter
21/7/2014 at 4:15pm
 Location: Shropshire
 Outfit: Vango Mira 500 & Abi Sunstar View Deserter's Profile View Profile   Reply to Deserter Reply   Quote Deserter Quote  
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You don't need the special primers, a good coat of polyurethane varnish will seal it just as well, or for that matter a good quality oil based gloss, you need to thin your first few coats though as MDF will drink it up.

The thing to remember is that MDF will expand if it gets wet, and that means you'll need to seal it all round including inside any joints. If the MDF is either green or has a green core then your lucky as its moisture resistant to start with (still requires a top coat though).

For reference, My experience is from my profession (Cabinet Maker).


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Personsorenlorensen
21/7/2014 at 10:25pm
 Location: Peak District
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thank you so much everyone, this is all really useful.

it definitely doesn't have a green core so I will make sure it is sealed all round.

this site is full of such lovely helpful people, thankyou!


Personchappers2341
21/7/2014 at 10:41pm
 Location: Oxford
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yep most primers wont actually seal the MDF but will make painting it with a gloss paint much easier and more effective


Personcarol benham
22/7/2014 at 1:27pm
 Location: South Staffs
 Outfit: Vango Ventanas Cabanon Andorra & Calvi View carol benham's Profile View Profile   Reply to carol benham Reply   Quote carol benham Quote  
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In the old days when I made my own furniture with MDF (much to my dad's annoyance as a cabinet maker) I used to just give it a coat of watered down PVA followed by cheap white emulsion then a couple of coats of coloured emulsion followed by a water based varnish (or not depending what I was using it for) but you do have to cover every bit of it or the water gets in and expands it.



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