Guys (and Gals),

I have started building an in-wall equipment rack, and have run into a problem with the most simple thing! I bought drilled Melamine board from HD, which almost fit the bill. THey used to stock 24" wide drilled melamine, but now just have the drilled in 16" wide. I added another 9" wide sheet to give myself slightly more than 24" in depth, which I need for my components. Not ideal, but really my only viable option. Won't be too bad.

Now my problem. I am having a heck of a time getting the dumb PAINT to dry hard and stick on the Melamine! It isn't working like painting my walls, these things have been painted for two days, and it still isn't hard. Any little touch is rubbing the paint off. I didn't want this thing to be a two week project, so I am a bit frustrated. Should I have rough sanded the melamine? Has anyone here used Melamine board for things like this, and did you paint it? I am frustrated right now, so advice is appreciated!

I am attaching a few pics for reference.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/3/web/2043000-2043999/2043766_34_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/3/web/2043000-2043999/2043766_35_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/3/web/2043000-2043999/2043766_36_full.jpg

This is a timely thread since I just bought white melamine and made a rack out of it. I want to paint it black. I hope someone here can answer your question. Here is what I have done so far:

I googled for "melamine paint" and it looks like there are paints specifically for melamine. Since it has the plastic coating, normal paint won't stick. So far I haven't had any luck finding that at HD or Lowes. I asked the guy at the paint counter how to paint melamine and he said that you buy some "gripper" primer that is supposed to stick to anything. You prime it with this gripper primmer, and then he said you can paint it with any paint. I haven't tried this yet, so just passing on what he said.

Guy

This is a timely thread since I just bought white melamine and made a rack out of it. I want to paint it black. I hope someone here can answer your question. Here is what I have done so far:

I googled for "melamine paint" and it looks like there are paints specifically for melamine. Since it has the plastic coating, normal paint won't stick. So far I haven't had any luck finding that at HD or Lowes. I asked the guy at the paint counter how to paint melamine and he said that you buy some "gripper" primer that is supposed to stick to anything. You prime it with this gripper primmer, and then he said you can paint it with any paint. I haven't tried this yet, so just passing on what he said.

Guy

Interesting, do you have any pics of the rack you have built?

Well that will be a bummer to need to buy special paint. I guess I can just peel the paint off. I guess I will consider the gripper primer as well.

At this point I am thinking about pulling the melamine out. It stinks, I got it pretty cheap and was excited about that. I had cut all my shelves as well, and have painted them too. Nothing is sticking.

Can anyone tell me if regular MDF takes paint just fine, and is it durable?

Well, I just tested the paint again. I have melamine next regular wood, and did the old "scratch them paint to see if it sticks" test, and it paint on the normal wood is fine. Since all my shelves and sides of the rack area are painted, I may be pulling it all out and starting over. Maybe I will use peg board for sides now, for ease of installation. That stuff should take paint just fine, I resisted using it before because I thought the drilled MDF looked cleaner.

On the other hand, I could use regular ol' MDF sides and use some of that vertical rack track with slots. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Have any silicone products been used near the wood? Are you using plain unfinished melamine [or the white finished stuff]? You might need to rough up the surface by sanding the melamine.
Use a gray spray primer, then a flat black spray paint. Hard coat the top with a couple coats of spray on polyurethane. It's important to give the paint time to dry before sealing the piece.

I'd go to Autozone or any auto parts store, and find some adhesion promoter. They come ins spray, about 4-5 bucks a can, and are specifically made for painting plastics and such. There is also (there at autozone) a Duplicolor vinyl and fabric spray. This too has special adhesion promotors built into the paint. Comes in various basic colors. about 4-5 bucks as well.

You might need to use both, the promotor, then the paint.
Tboy

I used MDF to do the interior of my cabinet. The HD melamine stuff wasn't available in a depth I needed. The MDF was a pleasure to work with (created a boatload of dust though). I drilled my own holes using a drill press. I was able to dust the panels off well then laid on 2 coats of primer. The black paint went on next. It turned out pretty decent. If you want to stick (pun intended) with the melamine, you need to sand it to rough up the surface before you paint. The paint needs something to adhere to. The plastics primer, or even automotive primer, should work with the melamine.

I just peeled all the paint off the melamine, nice huh? It almost all came off in one piece. I think I will try some MDF out today. Wish me luck!

I picked up some primer from HD, the paint guy said he has had success with it on Melamine. Going to finish peeling (!) off the paint, and to apply the primer. Wish me luck!

I found this thread with perfect timing. I am doing exactly the same thing with my equipment. Wanting to build a rack and paint it. I like the idea of using the shelving track recessed into the sides. I will be following this thread. I've painted my room red as well. :)

Don't forget the rough sand! ..... Hey, whaddaya mean you already painted it? :)

You know, I have occasionally seen black melamine at Lowes or Home Depot. It tends to be shiny though, so if you are looking for flat that may not work.

But a light sanding with 200 or finer sandpaper and a coat or two of Kilz II primer should work just fine.

I didn't sand it, but used the KilzII primer. Let that dry about 3 hours, and just hit it with the first coat of paint. We'll see how it turns out! The paint certainly went on better.

I just built my inwall rack out of the same material. I used Krylon black textured spray paint for plastic. It looks great and sticks. I tested some on a scrap piece first. I moved my 40 lb receiver around on it and it did not scratch.
Got mine at Home Depot and I have seen it at Walmart
Try it

[QUOTE=fst96se]I didn't sand it, but used the KilzII primer. QUOTE]

Kilz sticks to just about anything with the least bit of surface profile (hence the sanding.) Get some on your hands and let it dry and you will be trying to get off with a scrub brush a week later :) Hope you have better luck this time!

[QUOTE=fst96se]I didn't sand it, but used the KilzII primer. QUOTE]

Kilz sticks to just about anything with the least bit of surface profile (hence the sanding.) Get some on your hands and let it dry and you will be trying to get off with a scrub brush a week later :) Hope you have better luck this time!

Ya, tried that!

I think what you need is Krylon's Fusion brand of spray paint. It's specifically designed to adhere to most plastics.

http://www.krylon.com/main/product_template.cfm?levelid=5&sub_levelid=10&productid=1751&content=product_details

I can't speak for melamine, but I work in the plastics industry and it works great on a lot of plastics that are usually considered non-paintable.

You know, I have occasionally seen black melamine at Lowes or Home Depot. It tends to be shiny though, so if you are looking for flat that may not work.


Yep, they make black melamine.

Yep, they make black melamine.

Really? I haven't seen that anywere. Where have you seen it?

I nominate the Krylon Fusion paint as well. I have used it on plastics before with absolutely no texture and it still sticks. That stuff is amazing.

Another vote for Krylon Fusion. I used it on several projects as both a paint and a primer for latex paint. The stuff just works.

I may be trying the Krylon Fusion, I don't think the Kilz Primer is quite going to do it. I am going to hit it with a few more coats and see.

Mdf is great is you are going to paint...I have build hundreds of "build ins" for costomers..Just remember to sand smooth(very smooth) the edges and router cut details.

I also made my own equipment rack, I was able to get Black Melamine. Try Lumber yard or Paneling store, it was a special order in my case. He also gave me 3 names of people who would cut the boards to the sizes i needed. I order 4 sheets it was cut and drilled for $60.00, to the sizes i requested sides, tops shelfs. Made 2 units side by side also used the Krylon spray paint for the back of the Rack it made a perfect match. I also have all the scrap pieces of Melamine and when its time I will used it for molding around the Racks.

I also made my own equipment rack, I was able to get Black Melamine. Try Lumber yard or Paneling store, it was a special order in my case. He also gave me 3 names of people who would cut the boards to the sizes i needed. I order 4 sheets it was cut and drilled for $60.00, to the sizes i requested sides, tops shelfs. Made 2 units side by side also used the Krylon spray paint for the back of the Rack it made a perfect match. I also have all the scrap pieces of Melamine and when its time I will used it for molding around the Racks.

Sounds good, do you have any pictures of your setup?

Well, I still need to trim it out, but the rack is done. Hope to get it trimed out, and the trim painted this week. All in all, I am quite happy with how it turned out! The KillzII primer really did end up doing the job. The rack isn't perfect, but unless you got in there with a flashlight, you wouldn't know it. Watched our first movie with ithe components recessed tonight. I found myself looking over at my handiwork more than once! ;)

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p78/fst96se/DSC02357.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p78/fst96se/DSC02355.jpg

Watched our first movie with ithe components recessed tonight. I found myself looking over at my handiwork more than once! ;)



Looks good.

Hopefully you won't have problems with heat, cause you didn't leave much extra room around the components it appears.

Before this thread started, I bought some Rust-Oleum "Textured Paint For Plastic" spray paint. I tried just spraying it on a scrap piece of white Melamine, and I could easily scratch the paint off with my fingernail. It does say maximum adhesion is achieved in 5-7 days, so maybe I just need to wait longer. I also did it in my garage that was around 30 degrees, and it says to do it at 50-90 degrees.

Here are my options for the next things to try:
1) Lightly sand the melamine before painting
2) Prime the melamine with the Gripper primer I bought before painting
3) Give up on Rust-Oleum and try to find the Krylon Fusion
4) On the Rust-Oleum can it says to wipe down the surface with paint thinner for best adhesion

Any recommendations on what I should try next?

Thanks,
Guy