Replies

1. 
   saschafer | Sep 18, 2007 04:09am | #1

   BASF manufacturers colored MDF. That may be what you saw.

   http://www.basf.com/specialty_colorants/bcsclrantsmdf.html

   -Steve

    

2. 
   ted | Sep 18, 2007 04:19am | #2

   Great Lakes MDF makes and distributes colored MDF although availability can be spotty depending on the wholesaler.
   I've used aniline dyes with good success. I put it on with a foam brush rather heavy then go back over the surface with a wad of paper towels and "blot" the excess. This seems to help mitigate blotchiness and lap marks. I repeat the process until I get the color saturation I want. Oil based polyurethane over the dye really helps to intensify the color and even things out.

1. 
   davidraynalds | Sep 19, 2007 03:14am | #3

   Thanks, I'll give your method a try. My plywood source would only order colored MDF in lot of ten sheets.

   Edited 9/18/2007 8:26 pm ET by davidraynalds

3. 
   WoodShopGuy | Sep 20, 2007 05:23am | #4

   Have to admit that I am confused here -- again,
   not an infrequent occurrence at this point in life.

   MDF, IMHO and experience, is an occasionally functional, but relatively crude substrate to be covered with some other solid finished or finish-ready material, or to be primed and painted.

   Thus, ???

1. 
   saschafer | Sep 20, 2007 06:16am | #5

   You'd be surprised at what people are making out of MDF these days. I was in a lecture hall at Ohio State University in Columbus recently, where the walls were covered with MDF panels randomly perforated with holes (as sound baffles).

   With a nice finish, and when used in a situation where it won't get banged up too much, it looks fine.

   -Steve

    

1. 
   WoodShopGuy | Sep 20, 2007 06:22am | #6

   Thanks for the reply, Steve. In a unique situation like that, probably calling for relatively inexpensive materials, I am not surprised and expect it is very functional.