Spray painting over melamine

Hi guys. I have built some cabinets in our laundry using melamine faced mr mdf. The edges are routed to a profile. I will fill the edges with spackle and sand off. Then I want to spray them - with enamel or similar. Can anyone suggest the best product and method for this. I'm a bit suspicious about the melamine - and whether conventional paint will stick to it.

Last time I did this I had them professionally polyurethane coated. It was a very high quality job but am hoping to avoid the cost this time by doing it myself.

thanks
Arron

Hi, anyone here can correct me if I am wrong but here's my 2c worth. I think if you give a key to the melamine surfaces by sanding with 240grit or 320grit and ensuring there is no grease or oil or dust by using a tack cloth and wiping with Prepwash, most paint's should adhere.

I "believe" matrix is 100% correct - it would be like painting any other surface - create a key and away you go.

Martrix is spot on with the key, but dont forget the edges which need to be filled using a filling type paint. When they do this they only paint the edge then sand. The finish coat is then applied.

melamine is a non porous serface and traditional paint will not "stick" to it no matter how you rough up the surface ,white kight have a product that you spray/brush onto melamine first then let dry and then are able to cover with another paint medium

Arms is right

Flood make a product called ESP, easy surface prep, http://www.floodaustralia.net/products/esp.htm which seems to do a pretty good job on melamine. I haven't had any issues so far. It is very easy to use as well and not too expensive. I got it from Bunnings, I have seen it at Dulux trade centres as well.

Cheers
Ben

I tried to coat melamine doors when renovating a kitchen. Knew that over the years they would get a fair share of knocks so before doing all the doors I tested a few with different paints and ESP product from Flood. Unfortunately even with pre sanding, the paint just did not stand up to the wear and tear it would receive over the years.Found it very easy to knock paint chips off the surface. Would be interested to know if anyone tried the White Knight product.

Hi Tom, thanks for your reply.
I sourced some 'White Knight Tile and Melamine primer today - at Bunnings. One small question - I was expecting to spray it, but the instructions on the can mention nothing about spraying. Do you spray it - or will I have some problem spraying it. I have only an old-fashioned spray outfit, not one of the HVLP ones.

thanks
Arron

no i have only ever brushed on ,but this has never been a problem as the final coat is where the finish is a test of how well you have done the spraying of the top coat

thanks Tom,
can I also ask you what you use to fill the edges (ie. the exposed MDF) ?

cheers
Arron

at first i was sceptical until i used the white knight primer on a melamine end gable in the kitchen almost 4 years ago
i then used an enamel paint & have had no problems with chipping or peeling

the edge of the mdf will soak the paint up
what we used to do was run a thin skim of bog around the edge then sand smooth & paint

whatever you are going to spray on as a top coat dilute this down to about 50 percenr strength and pain on to the edges ,keep painting on until it doesnt dry into the edge then sand bacy with a fine grade paper ,it is very important to completley seal the edges properly

Geez, some of you blokes are talking a load of rubbish...'paint won't stick to melamine'....crap it won't! And ya don't need no expensive DIY marketed additive.....but anyway....Filling the edges with bog? WHY? What a time waster......

I CAN ONLY SUMMISE THAT YOU ARE THE EPITOME OF WOODWORKERS WITH YOUR BROAD KNOWLEDGE OF THE INTRICIES OF ALL PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET AND I STAND /NO KNELL IN FRONT OF YOU AS THE HIGH PRIEST OF WOODWORKING KNOWLEDGE,
i will no longer offer any suggestions ,
forgive me o lord for i am not worthy

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shane Watson

Geez, some of you blokes are talking a load of rubbish...'paint won't stick to melamine'....crap it won't! And ya don't need no expensive DIY marketed additive.....but anyway....Filling the edges with bog? WHY? What a time waster......

---

Well it appears that you do as well.

Not all paints will stick to melamine. If you don't key it or use something to make it stick it will peel off. I've seen it happen.

If you dont fill the edges with filling type paint you wont get a decent finish without a crapload of coats.

If the above is good enough for the pros, (and they are in business so they dont waste time and money if it isn't necessary), then I would figure it would be fair to assume that it's the right way to proceed.


I suppose you would recommend PVA glue on melamine as well.....

steady on chaps.
1 edge filling.
IMHO bogging up edges on chip or MDF is not the easiest or best way to go. Far better to use a sanding sealer or high build primer & sand a couple of times. You will end up with a harder more durable edge.
2 paint sticking to melemine.
Not all paints will stick to melamine. BUT lots of stuff will, particularly if you do "some preparation".

There are plenty of people who will sell you all sorts of stuff to do all sorts of things. That doesn't mean there aren't other ways that work.

cheers

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shane Watson

Geez, some of you blokes are talking a load of rubbish...'paint won't stick to melamine'....crap it won't! And ya don't need no expensive DIY marketed additive.....but anyway....Filling the edges with bog? WHY? What a time waster......

---

so how do you do it??

Soundy have you ever tried using a resin on mdf endgrain?