Our suggestions for finishing Medium Density Fiberboard

Be sure to prime the entire surface and edges of the MDF before painting to ensure even absorption of the paint. The edges may require two coats of primer, as they will absorb more of the primer than the surface area.

For priming medium density fiberboard we recommend "B-I-N" Shellac-Base Primer-Sealer, does a wonderful job and dries very quickly. After the primer is applied wash the application tools in a solution of equal parts household Ammonia and water immediately after use.

When the primer is dry any good quality oil or latex paint can be applied over it. Several thin coats of paint normally give a better performance than a single thick coat, but each coat must be allowed to dry thoroughly and sanded lightly before the application of the next coat. 180 grit sandpaper works well for the flat surface areas and #0000 steel wool pads (sometimes called 4/0) does a nice job of cleaning up the routed or square edges. Once you have the base color applied then you can proceed with additional coats or your artwork details. A final few protective coatings of a good quality polyurethane makes for a great finish coating and will also protect the paint below.

This all sounds pretty complicated but it is really very easy and the great thing about it is that if you’re not satisfied with a coating you can sand lightly and apply another coat. Latex antiquing kits also provide a great looking finish on MDF. Simply use them in place of the paint after the primer has dried and top coat with polyurethane.

Can you stain MDF?
Yes, you can stain medium density fiberboard but unlike natural wood you don't get the appearance of wood grain. It is a wood board which is made out of wood fibers and resin. Because of the construction of the board, it doesn't take stain like other types of wood.

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