I need advice staining MDF Board
+6
I in very bad judgment agreed to restore an old desk for a friend, and I have started to sand the front which has turned out to be MDF and not veneer. I am looking for advice on how to match the stain on the MDF with the veneer. He is a chiropractor and this is his office desk so painting it is not an option. Any ideas?
This is what the legs looked like before
Lehs after, but you can clearly see it is MDF
6 answers
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One problem with MDF, unlike wood, is that it does not take repairs easily. It's very hard to fill gouges and cuts. About the only thing you can do is cover the top with an acrylic finish. There are products that are "60 times thicker than varnish" that evidently you pour on a surface and it hardens into a hard urethane/plastic surface. Another possibility is to apply many coats of stain/paint until the surfaces get smooth and even. I guess it depends on how much work ($$$) you want to invest in the project. Phil
Phil a
on Sep 26, 2016
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http://www.instructables.com/id/Flexy-Rack-with-MDF-staining-tips/step4/Staining-and-Finishing/ ***** http://homeguides.sfgate.com/stain-mdf-doors-37337.html
William
on Sep 26, 2016
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First sand the MDF smooth and don't worry about color. Assuming the MDF hasn't "bloomed" (swelled with moisture), coat it several times with lacquer sanding sealer (brush able), sanding between coats until smooth and completely sealed. Now, you are ready to top coat the repaired piece with color infused top coating of your choice. The more coats you put on, the more opaque the coating. Basically, the "stain" will be on the material, not in the material. That insures an even color density regardless of opacity. If you want more on the technique, research staining pine. Pine is notorious for not taking stain evenly and this technique is widely used by those who create with pine and wish to affect a "stained" appearance.
Rog
on Sep 26, 2016
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you can fill missing areas with bondo and sand smooth.
Pamela Field
on Sep 26, 2016
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tell him he'd be better off getting new desk than spending the time and $$ fixing that one. :( those pulls are great though!
Pamela Field
on Sep 26, 2016
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It's available at The Home Depot and is about $25 for a quart: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Parks-1... Let us know what you figure out. Phil
Phil a
on Sep 26, 2016
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