How would I go about painting furniture that is made of particle board and has the laminate surface?

Question

Do I need a primer? Do I spray paint it or do I use a brush? What kind of paint should I use?

Answer 1

You will never go wrong by using a primer. You will want to degloss the surface. there are chemical deglossers but they are for use on glossy paint. I don't know if they would work on the laminate. Sanding with 150 grit sandpaper will work. Use a bonding primer and two coats of latex paint, satin or semi gloss finish. The primer can be tinted to the finish color for better coverage. A sprayer can give a good finish if you know what you are doing but this is probably not a good project for learning to spray. I definitely would not use spray cans. You should be able to get good results with a brush. The job will be easier and your results will be better if you buy a quality brand of paint and brush. The good stuff is not much more expensive than the cheap stuff.

Answer 2

Use a primer which has been formulated for the purpose, something like ESP (every surface primer). I have manged without - just lightly sandpapering the laminate (often a plastic paper foil, and this has given satisfactory results. I normally use 'wet and dry' paper - some of the laminates can be quite thin, and make sure you remove any residues of silicone or wax polish that may have been used previously. I always use oil-based paints as this seems to adhere better and is more durable. Brush or roller gives a reasonable finish, especially if you lightly rub down between coats, but if spraying you might consider using a cellulose paint.

Answer 3

Make sure it is clean and free of dust. Prime it with an oil-based primer. Sand it lightly but be sure it is smooth. Then i would use an oil base paint for the finish coat. You could use a polyurethane on it to protect it but you are getting into alot of money as it is with the oil paint because it is expensive and the piece of furniture may not be worth the price you pay for the paint. If it is small and you aren't really worried about using it for a long time, I'd think about just spray painting it.

Answer 4

You're going to have to make the surface un-shiny so the paint will adhere. You can sand the whole thing with a very fine grade of sandpaper...you don't want scratches in the surface. Then you'll need a primer coat and then sand lightly in between coats. And finally the finish coat, or coats, depending on how it covers the first coat. I think I would also add a top coat of a clear acrylic to protect the paint.
I would use a brush or sponge brush because it gives a nicer finish.