MDF + Clearcoat finish...

[bibster]

Hi all,

I'm finishing my 1st DIY project these days, and want to finish them in shiny black.
They're made of 18mm MDF.

A friens of mine said, why not use 2-component epoxy to (start) the finish(ing with)? It'll make them as hard as a nail (Blame me, dutch expression.. ;-) )

So I convinced myself, thinking it'll harden/stiffen the cabinet, thus reduse resonance etc... good thing (tm).

Went to the local paintshop, the bloke told me to use 'Sikkens PU Clearcoat': Almost as tough as expoy, but easies handling && cheaper. Once again convinces, I bought a liter of hig-shine (satin?? Hoogglans in dutch..) black PU Clearcoat.

Now, how should I proceed? Anyone here some experience with this (kind of) paint? Should I apply a coat of (ordinary) 'ground-layer' (primer, innit?) first? Or maybe 2 or 3 ?
P 200 in between.

Shoud I finish after 2 layer of ClearCoat with some transparant laquer? 3 layers or so?
p 400 or p 800 in between?

I'd like them to be as black as a grand piano, and just as shiny!

If anyone could give me some advice, I'd be thankfull!

PAul

[Timn8ter]

Always prime MDF and usually more than one coat, maybe two or three, sanding between each coat to get rid of every tiny bump or dip. Once it's perfectly smooth then you can think about applying your gloss black and it'll take several coats of that also. It's a long hard process to get the "piano black" finish.

[joster]

I found this link about doing piano-like finish a while back. Have not tried it but it sounds like a DIY type project. I am going to use it on my first set of speakers.
It is more along the lines of your epoxy finish idea, using fiberglass resin.
http://www.garbled.net/tim/fiberglass.html

[jleaman]

Well when i build my lesure towers im going to cover mie with fiberflass the really thin stuff and sand them smooth and then get them painted at a auto body shop or my self one of the to but it will take a great deal of time to do. also want that nice smooth rounded port inside and out.

[Timn8ter]

A surfer from Oz asked me why I don't make cabinets the same way they make boards. Prime, color, then cover with epoxy. Haven't tried it yet.

[jleaman]

it is what im going to do.. after the cabinet is well glued together and smooth and screws are all tight.. would be a interesting project for me too..

[capslock]

Originally posted by bibster
Once again convinces, I bought a liter of hig-shine (satin?? Hoogglans in dutch..) black PU Clearcoat.

hoogglans = glossy or high gloss

Does this stuff consist of two components to be mixed or only one? If one, does it say to use water or organic solvent for thinning? How can a clearcoat be black?

Groetjes,

Eric

[jleaman]

you paint it first the color then clear coat.. mine will not be black.. mine are going to be a dark red : O)

[mwmkravchenko]

If you want a truly piano black then carefully sand and fill the boxes. Paint them black with a good enamel. Then spray them with the two part epoxy. It's the only way to go. I once did a gloss black set of cabinets with laquer. It took over 30 coats!! and enough sanding to make you want to stop sanding forever. Now I use the method I explained above. Older and wiser.

Mark one time professional cabinet maker

[jleaman]

yes but i also want the strenth and the smoothness in my port's and box : O )