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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Perth WA
    Posts
    7

    Default Staining a MDF Veneer Entrance Door

    Hi, I bought a Hume Entrance door from Bunnings last week..I showed the guy the door I purchased and that I would pick the stain later later but bought 2 litres of Cabots exterior clear in satin for it...I rang Cabot's on Friday and they advised me they dont recommend I stain it as the outside of the door is made of mdf veneer...I rang the supplier and they said its fine to stain..so Im really confused..I cant take it back as I tried a small amount of stain on the side to see if it soaked in but cant really tell..my doorframe is a browny/red colour..can anyone offer any advice on what would happen if I tried to stain it or is it safer to just use several coats of exterior clear on it? Any advice would be appreciated..thanks...

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Perth WA
    Posts
    7

    Default

    Anyone?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Katoomba NSW
    Posts
    332

    Default

    I'd just go ahead and stain it. If it doesn't look right, stain it darker.
    I should think it will be ok to stain. I doubt that the colour needs to go deeper than the veneer.
    I should clarify that I know nothing about staining.
    Those were the droids I was looking for.
    https://autoblastgates.com.au

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    723

    Default

    From the Hume doors website:

    "Immediately after fitting, and prior to hanging, the entire door, including the top and bottom edges, must receive two coats of undercoat and two coats of paint. If staining, exterior grade varnish or sealer must be used and its application to be equivalent to paint finish, to prevent absorption of moisture. Semi gloss or satin finishes are recommended for all doors to reduce “show-through”.

    Exterior finishes to be applied strictly in accordance with paint manufacturers instructions. Entrance and exterior doors should be finished in light reflective colours to reduce the risk of heat absorption which may cause warping."

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Perth WA
    Posts
    7

    Default

    Cheers guys..im assuming that means if i do 2 coats of stain and 2 or 3 coats of exterior clear in satin then i should be cool bananas...it does say on the side of the door not to paint it a dark colour so i mite just go a baltic pine or walnut colour..Ive been told the door darkens with colour once the interior clear is applied?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    80
    Posts
    36

    Default

    As Master Splinter said make sure you paint ALL SIX SIDES don't use acrylic !!! oil paint only on exterior doors.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Perth WA
    Posts
    355

    Default

    Is the MDF the moisture resistant type?
    Experienced in removing the tree from the furniture

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Perth WA
    Posts
    7

    Default

    It just says Veneered MDF fielded panels solid construction..the doors quite heavy...so an oil based stain then how many coats of satin Exterior clear would i need to apply? thanks!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    8

    Default

    Solvents in oil based paints and stains can degrade and dissolve the glue used in MDF. Most coating suppliers will recommend a water based product for this reason.

    Fletch

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    723

    Default

    Water based products on MDF can raise the grain: never use a water based product as the primer, always something solvent based, especially if you've been sanding. My preferred MDF paint finish is automotive acrylic lacquer as it dries quickly and you can really 'piano gloss' it if that's the sort of look you are after.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Perth WA
    Posts
    7

    Default

    Umm no wasnt thinking of painting it an acrylic colour..just wanted to stain it and then do the exterior clear over the top

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Perth WA
    Posts
    7

    Default

    Umm..well Ive done 2 coats of an oil based stain on the door and the outside part of the door the stain looks blotchy...should i sand it back and apply another coat? The first coat went on well..maybe i shoulda left it at that!

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Albury Well Just Outside
    Posts
    2,966

    Default

    Now blotchy not something that you really wanted to deal with. It is my understanding to resolve the blotchy would require to sand back the stain. But this is veneer and the risk of sanding too much could sand through the veneer.

    Now exactly how bad or distinguishable does it look?

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Perth WA
    Posts
    7

    Default

    Just to let everyone know i stained it in a reddy/brown colour ..the first coat just soaked in, the 2nd coat looked blotchy so did a 3rd coat and looked heaps better...then applied a few coats of exterior clear over the top ( all oil based and i sanded back between sand coats) and the door looks great..ive had lotsa good comments on it..thanks for your help guys!

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    back in Alberta for a while
    Age
    69
    Posts
    1,133

    Default

    did you paint all 6 sides with the same number of coats?
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

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