We are using MDF as a desk surface in childrens rooms, what paint/varnish would give a hardwearing finish?

Use an MDF primer and then paint it with an eggshell.We are using MDF as a desk surface in childrens rooms, what paint/varnish would give a hardwearing finish?
if you want to leave the mdf the color that it is then you can put urethane over it. i don't know if it will except a stain you can try that to see what happens, i have just urethane it when using in my garage and it looks alright. for a smooth paint finish first prime with bin primer and let dry. then coat with a good semigloss or high gloss paint. use a good quality foam roller to apply all coats and give at least 4 hrs between coats.We are using MDF as a desk surface in childrens rooms, what paint/varnish would give a hardwearing finish?
Most any high quality oil based enamel. I have built MDF furniture and the finish always looks better if sprayed. Several light coats looks and wears better than one thick coat. You would need an air compressor and a cheap cup gun to spray the paint though. You can rent the air compressor for about $25 a day at a rental store, and buy the cup gun to keep for the next time for about $35. Be sure to clean the cup gun up well before you put it away. Spraying straight paint thinner through the gun works well. You can also brush the finish on, but the paint won't be as smooth. Also be sure to use a clear sanding sealer (dries quickly and is easy to sand to get a really smooth finish) before you paint. Some of the furniture I have built is over 12 years old, still in the kids rooms and looks almost like the day I built it. One side note, kids always like bright colors! Hope this helps.
I have done this very same job, first clean the surface with a rag with white spirit on it, not to much just enough to get the dust off, next a good coat of clear or stained POLYURETHANE varnish, (This is by far the easiest to use and shouldn't be harm-full to the kids), next when it is dry lightly rub down with a fine sand paper and remove all of the dust and coat again, the more coats you do the harder it is, try not to get the varnish wet for a couple of days and it will be as hard as rock, you can give it an extra coat every now and then just to top it up, i think that this is the best way to finish MDF.
Varnish is much tougher more so if you use yatch varnish
WARNING do not use yacht varnish it is toxic


alternative use none toxic paints a good


primmer and a gloss paint as it is used for children


by all means look at other varnishes but check the contains list
Call the hardware store and ask them
you need to prime it first, MDF primer, (bloody expensive though!)





then varnish it
we made (well hubby did) a desk in our sons room and we painted it with blackboard paint and he made a bed for our other son and we used gloss paint,but first you have to put pva seal on it or the paint will soak in(pva glue and water) hope this helps
I used Kelley Moore industrial enamel to spray kitchen cabinets.


Very durable solvent based enamel hard as the hubs of hell and will not yellow in my lifetime. or you can use a good alkyd enamel with a little penitrol (good stuff) in it to help penetration and leveling brush marks to paint with roller, then ';Bake it in the sun for a day or two, again hard and durable.
you could do both if you wish. use emulsion then when it's dry go over the it with a clear varnish. ronseal is good it does exactly what it says on the tin
VARATHANE. (nothing better in my opinion)
Spar varnish will give a tough, long lasting finish.





I would prime it first, then put a couple of coats of this on...





Oh, and if you ';really want a unique piece';, you may do as my buddy did...





He routed the name of his daughter on his dresser, and then got some glitter, and mixed in the spar varnish. He then, layered the varnish in, and let it dry, until the layers were buit up to flush, then varnished the entire piece...





Really looked sharp and it was a keepsake for sure!





(You only need to do this about an 1/8 inch with a router, if you have one, or dremel tool)...





I wish you well...





Jesse
Gym Floor Finish
Try using chalk board paint. Double duty they can write on in and you won't have to dust it.