D
22
c/carpentersskyler_mitchellskyler_mitchell22d agoMost Upvoted

Serious question, got told by a master carpenter I was over-sanding my door frames before paint, should I have listened?

He said I was making the MDF too smooth for primer to stick, but I always thought smoother meant better finish, now I'm wondering if I should rough up the next set or just keep going my way, anyone else get feedback that totally split your approach in two?
3 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In
3 Comments
xenarobinson
That MDF thing is tricky because the dust from sanding actually clogs the pores. You might be burnishing the surface, sealing it like a high gloss plastic without realizing it. Your master carpenter probably sees this daily where people sand to a mirror finish then wonder why paint peels off in sheets. There's a middle ground though. Fine sandpaper with a light hand gets you smooth without smearing the MDF fibers. Maybe try a sanding sealer next time.
1
daniel552
daniel55222d ago
Ngl that whole "trying too hard ruins it" thing applies to like cooking, relationships, even mowing your lawn.
3
andrewt41
andrewt4122d ago
This is just like how people overclean their cast iron pans until the seasoning flakes off. There's always this sweet spot in woodworking where trying too hard to make something PERFECT actually ruins it. Sometimes you gotta accept that a little texture is better than chasing that mirror finish.
1