Flat, dense, and easy to decorate, MDF is now the preferred timber for carpenters to use when creating common household furniture such as kitchen cabinets and wall panels.
If you’re in the process of redecorating woodwork around your home and are wondering what the preparation process looks like for MDF, you might be asking: can you sand MDF?
Whilst you can (and should) sand MDF before painting, there are some key safety precautions to bear in mind before you begin the job. The aim of this article is to outline the process you should follow to not only preserve your health but to ensure you get that perfect smooth finish after you finish painting.
Can You Sand MDF?
Whilst you can sand MDF, it’s very important to use a high-quality dust mask before, during, and after, and to ensure the area you’re sanding in is well-ventilated.
Within MDF is a carcinogenic polymer called urea formaldehyde which can sometimes be released during the sanding process and therefore presents great danger if you’re exposed to it. Furthermore, this polymer can cause irritation to your eyes and lungs.
Is Sanding MDF Dangerous?
As mentioned above, sanding MDF can be dangerous if you don’t use suitable personal protective equipment. It is especially dangerous to those that are exposed to MDF dust particles on a regular basis such as tradespeople like painters, decorators, and carpenters, assuming they’re not using PPE.
What Kind of Sandpaper Should You Use On MDF?
As MDF is a material made up of many timber sheets glued together under high heat and pressure, it has a very smooth surface that makes it easy to achieve a smooth paint finish.
With that in mind, the best sandpaper grade you can use on MDF will be something that is extra fine as you won’t need to smooth the surface as much as some other timber surfaces. I find that sandpaper with a P Grit of 320 works best on MDF.
What Other Sanders Can You Use on MDF?
If you have other sanders such as orbital sanders handy you can use those to sand down MDF too. This can be especially useful if you have a dustless sanding system as you’ll be free to sand without exposing yourself to the MDF dust particles.
In general, I find that I get a better surface to paint on when hand-sanding MDF. This is because you won’t need to scuff the surface too much so it’s better to sand in an ultra-controlled manner.
I would recommend avoiding belt sanders if you can. Belt sanders sand at a much quicker rate than orbital sanders or sanding by hand and thus give you less control over the scuffing.
How to Sand MDF
Sanding MDF is a fairly simple process, all you need is a stripping knife and 320-grit sandpaper. Here is the process I use whenever I prepare MDF for painting.
- Put on your PPE
Before starting the preparation phase, it's important to put on PPE such as a high-quality dust mask and protective eyewear.
- Sand diagonally across the board
Using 320-grit glass paper, sand diagonally across the board, ensuring you rub down the entire surface.
- Sand again with minimal pressure
Using minimal pressure, very lightly sand in the same pattern as you did in step 1. This will give the surface a good amount of scuffing for your paint to adhere to.
Once you’ve followed this process, the MDF surface will be in the perfect condition to prime or paint, depending on what paint system you’re using.
How to Clean Up After Sanding MDF
Ideally, before sanding, you would’ve put down dust sheets. The purpose of the dust sheets is to attract dust particles, making it much easier to vacuum them after you’ve finished sanding.
You’ll also need a dusting brush to clean up the actual surface of the MDF. Use the brush to brush away any dust particles that might be left on the surface. If you don’t do this, the paint will struggle to adhere to the surface and could result in defects such as flaking.