Hardest paint finish on MDF

[rlaxton]

Hi,

I am making a built in study desk with a 32mm MDF top. I need to paint it with a finish that is going to be suitably durable for office use. I am guessing that some sort of 2-pack polyurethane or epoxy paint.

I suppose that another option would be to get the benchtop sections cut and finished by a kitchen place with a melamine veneer or something.

The desk runs around three sides of a room in a U shape and its outside dimensions are longest side 3900mm x 800mm with the left arm of the U being 2400 x 800 and the right arm 3060 x 800.

Thanks in advance for any advice anyone can provide.

Richard.

[Shane Watson]

Paint is only as hard as the product underneath. No matter how hard a finish you use, it WILL get damaged in that environment. Use laminated tops, you'll thank yourself in time. This is coming from someone (namely me! ) who has painted thousands of square metres of kitchen doors and panels in 2-pac poly-u...Never sprayed any benchtops once - take that as a broad hint and I only ever sprayed what the cabinetmakers bought me, so theres another hint....

Cheers..

[soundman]

I have to agree with shane about laminate being the go for good cheap benches buy your chip board or mdf pre laminated and save yourself a lot of time & money.

however if you must paint MDF

I have found JET DRY paving paint (or similar) over estipol sanding sealer very effective and capable of being quite atractive if rubbed back. Also posible to achieve a good finish witha brush but spraying is better.

[rlaxton]

Thanks for the info. I have put in a request with a local company to make me a laminate bench Plyboard Distributors in Ferntree Gully.

I guess that can bring me to another question. Can anyone help me find the best value for this sort of thing in Melbourne?

Richard.

[ajax]

Richard,

I normally buy my stuff from the PlyBoard Distr.. in Dandenong. they are at 192 Princess Hwy, D'nong. You can fin them in the pages. They have great prices, cut to size on hitech machines and moreover their OffCuts section is great. Take a peek. Last week end I bought several 1800 x 900 x 19 mm chipboards as OFFCUTS for a$12 each.

happy buying

[rlaxton]

Dandenong.. That's the one!

Just got the quote with a rolled edge. $1640 for my benchtop! Ouch! I oculd make it out of hardwood for that much! I think that I will go back to painting or polyurethaning the top instead.

Richard.

[journeyman Mick]

I usually pay about $100 per metre of rolled edge benchtop in Cairns but that doesn't include joins. However the stock generally used for benchtops is 700 wide so maybe you are paying for them to wrestle a 1200 wide sheet onto the saw to rip it down and also for the 400 wide offcut that they are tossing in the bin. I buy from Sizewise Readycut (started in Cairns about 10 yrs ago expanded to 3-4 other sites in Qld) They use a Laminex product for their tops called Aquaban. Its HMR (chipboard) coated on the underside with a white liner and comes in sheets 700 wide by 4800? long. If possible you may want to look at redesigning your tops to come in at 700 wide to see if this will have much impact on price.

Mick

[rlaxton]

Thanks, sounds like good advice. Unfortunately this is a computer desk and 700mm does not give enough clearance for the keyboard with a 19" monitor. Still, work thinkning about for other benches!

Richard.

[ajax]

Richard,

How about a sliding keyboard plate under the desk. works atreat. That may enable you to use 700 width and rip the cost benefits.

[lnt9000]

Richard get yourself LCD monitors and 700mm will be too much!