Can you use wood stain on MDF ?

Answer 1

You can, but it won't look very good. Stain tends to emphasize the natural grain of wood, and MDF has no grain so it'll just look crappy. You're better off to purchase a veneer to put over whatever you're building, or else paint it.

Answer 2

Can Mdf Be Stained

Answer 3

You can, but if you just wipe it on it is not going to look like wood and will look cheap. There are faux finishing techniques you can use that with experience look great. These are multi-step processes and take a degree of skill and practice. If you go on-line you can find books on faux finishes. Whether this is worth you time depends on what you are trying to do and your skill level. I have seen MDF doors done that look just like Mahogany. The cost differential between a Mahogany door $1,500 to an high quality MDF door $300 makes it an attractive option. A professional faux finisher did the doors for $300, a savings of $900. Doing your base boards in not really worth the time.

Answer 4

Certainly the first answer is correct you CAN, but shouldn't waste time, energy,material, or money. The reason it won't look as good as paint or wood that has been staind is the structure of the material, and the NON acceptance of stain by whats used to be the bonding agent in MDF or particle board materials.

Steven Wolf

Answer 5

You can do whatever you want.... but it will look like crap. Paint it, or if you really want the wood stain look, go to home depot and pick up some Luan or whatever it's called. Its like superthin plywood. Glue it on top of the mdf and stain...

Answer 6

I have to agree with the others. Technically you can but it will look terrible. MDF is always primed and painted.

Answer 7

you should paint