Cabinet finishing

[vteg]

I am planning on building my first set of speakers. I am fascinated with piano finish, but I have not figured out a way to get there. I don't have an air compressor so I need to use something that will brush on.

My first attempt was with spray on primer and black auto paint. It worked descently on my scrap mdf, but it is way too messy and there is no way I can paint a full tower descently like that.

I went to lowes hardware store and only found one black paint I gave it a try. It was not bad, but not glossy enough. I tried toping it with a water based polyeurethane, but I don't think they agreed with each other

So is there anyway to brush on a piano-like finish. I am going to make a trip to home depot to see if I have any better luck. I am looking for specific products which would be compatible. I understand there will be more work involved with brushing/sanding. A website for reference would be very useful also. I have done some searches on finishing in the last two weeks, so I don't know anything when it comes to this.

TIA

[Nappylady]

No way. Piano finish (and other super-high-gloss and mirror finishes) absolutely require spraying.

http://www.pc-workshop.net/articles/...int101-1.shtml

That link details the actual steps involved in getting a mirror finish on a steel case... I imagine that it's exactly the same on MDF, 'cept maybe more primer.

The site seems to be down right now. It could just be my connection... I'm hoping it's just my connection, 'cause that's a really cool site.

[x. onasis]

My experience is that the water-based varnishes are neither attractive, nor durable. But I thought they would be compatable over any finish, except wax.

You might be able to remove it easily (the poly)with any paint stripper and start again with another coat of paint and a better clear finish.

The glossy black piano-type finish might be better bought, in the form of a vertical grade (thin for bending, if it's necessary) laminate like Formica at this point, but if you still want to try paint and clear coat, use foam brushes and read my remarks here .... the comments about making the top of the finish _flat_ is the key to the piano finish.

[SteveA]

Look on the PartsExpress discussion page (speaker projects). I believe on of them describes a process for obtaining a piano black finish.

Steve

[x. onasis]

Here?

[SteveA]

Here is the one to which I was referring:
http://www.partsexpress.com/projects...daytonmtm.html
Steve

[Timn8ter]

Here's another one.
http://www.lungster.com/l/speakers/pianofinish.html
Check out some of the auto paint places. My buddy got some custom filled spray cans that have a nice fan nozzle on them in place of those awful round ones on regular spray cans. It works beautifully and is a low-cost alternative to buying a compressor.
Here's an on-line source.
http://www.towerpaint.com/carsandparts/

[jewilson]

The finish your wanting a piano black, is a black lacquer finish or a ebony polyurethane.

To get a good polish finish you will need to buff out the finish out. You will need an auto polisher and buffing pad and some swirl remover 3M and Maguire’s makes it.

A varnish finish like WaterLox will look nice but it will not polish as well as a Lacquer. Check out these sources below they sale these products and will help you out.

http://www.homesteadfinishing.com

www.waterlox.com

http://www.woodfinishsupply.com/liberon.html

[mwmkravchenko]

It can be done with a brush but your nuts if you think it will be easy. Ive done it a number of ways. There is one that is relatively easy but requires a spray gun. If you are interested e-mail me via the forum or privately and I will be happy to detail it.

One note is that you cannot put a water borne varnish over everything. And that particular varnish will have to come off if you want to create a quality job.

Mark

[Mos Fetish]

MDF is a great substrate for enabling a high quality finish.

You should use lacquer. Automotive acrylic lacquer will be fine.

Prepare the MDF well. Any minor imperfections in the MDF will show up ten times worse in a lacquered finish. Trust me, the smallest imperfection will look like the Grand Canyon when you apply a glossy lacquer finish. Fill any imperfections. Sand with fine grit.

The MDF has to be well sealed. Sealers go by different names but you're looking for a lacquer sanding sealer. Apply the sealer. The MDF fibres will fuzz up. Sand these back with fine grit. Apply another coat of sealer. Less fuzz this time. Sand again.

You will notice at this stage that the surface of the MDF is pretty damn smooth--glassy, in fact. This is good.

Check for imperfections at this stage (and at all stages). If they are minor (and they should be by now) just dab on some more sealer with a brush and allow to dry before sanding back.

Apply primer. Primers have certain surface levelling qualities that are important for high quality finishes. So, prime, sand, prime, sand. Use soapy water and wet & dry grit. This is the only way to cut the primer down to a perfectly smooth surface.

Your surface should be close to perfect by now. If it's not simply fix local imperfections with dabbed on primer and sand back.

Apply the color lacquer. I'd apply three coats and let them dry well before giving them a wet sand with very fine grit. Depending on the quality of your technique and your gun you should have minimum orange peel (surface ripple like an orange skin) to sand out.

Use your eye and surface reflections to identify any orange peel.

Want a good finish? Apply another couple of coats of color.

Wet sand again. Go to 2000 grit and free flowing water.

Ahh, smoooooth.

When it dries you'll notice the gloss has been sanded off. Looks like crap but that's no problem. You get the gloss back by using a mild cutting and polishing cream. Apply, buff, apply, buff.

You should end up with a deep, deep, mirror-like finish that would impress all but the most critical.

Yep, it's a lot of work but then a high gloss, perfect finish isn't available straight out of the can and anyone who says it is is fooling themselves.

Get a good book on lacquering and practice.

Good luck.

Mos