Duratex and MDF finishing questions

[ejh2854]

Re: Duratex and MDF finishing questions

reading the pdf on the website, it sound like a little water may hlp it get smoother. what quanity di you get?

Me? ...in my case, at least, it was just getting a handle on technique; was using a small (3") roller to be able to reach inside the horn, and managed to slop it around quite a bit.

I bought a gallon, not knowing how far it'd go:

http://www.speakerhardware.com/duratex-roller-grade.php

...and will have beaucoups left over.

.

[JCSquats]

Re: Duratex and MDF finishing questions

Just one other tidbit of advice: If you use Bondo on your cabinets, you will need multiple Duratex coats over that area, and sanding in between helps a lot. Duratex doesn’t like Bondo, but it will work just fine with a couple coats.

Bryan - what about a good multi-purpose primer over the Bondo, then Duratex? I've got a crude-but-strong MDF box prepared for an 8" woofer that I'm teaching myself how to fill the joints and uneven panels with the magic of Bondo, sanding, and sealing. Ultimately I know I can use the Duratex to hide a lot of that, but I'm trying to get a close to perfection as possible, before I apply it.

[DarrenM]

Re: Duratex and MDF finishing questions

That's a damned good question. After a week or so the finish is incredibly hard - almost like plastic. It's water-resistant too, so I'm not sure about how well it will allow paint to adhere to it.

Are you considering buying this stuff if it can be painted?

EDIT: I just realized they also sell it in white. I'm sure you can tint the white to any color you want. Maybe send them an email to confirm??

I buy my sealer in white and black and I can mix any shade frome plain white to dark black and any shade of grey in between

[bkeane1259]

Re: Duratex and MDF finishing questions

Bryan - what about a good multi-purpose primer over the Bondo, then Duratex? I've got a crude-but-strong MDF box prepared for an 8" woofer that I'm teaching myself how to fill the joints and uneven panels with the magic of Bondo, sanding, and sealing. Ultimately I know I can use the Duratex to hide a lot of that, but I'm trying to get a close to perfection as possible, before I apply it.

Yes, primer will help and Duratex likes primer. I have done Duratex right over bondo patches and it works but it takes several coats to completely cover the bondo'd area. Acrytech recommends using spackle instead of Bondo, but I like the durability of bondo, so I just can't get myself to use spackle on a speaker cabinet.

[DarrenM]

Re: Duratex and MDF finishing questions

Yes, primer will help and Duratex likes primer. I have done Duratex right over bondo patches and it works but it takes several coats to completely cover the bondo'd area. Acrytech recommends using spackle instead of Bondo, but I like the durability of bondo, so I just can't get myself to use spackle on a speaker cabinet.

In that case I would use urethane primer surfacer (maybe even laquer primer) instead of multiple coats of duraflex. Most urethanes are 4:1 and a quart plus a half pint of activator will go quite a ways. Id use kitchen type (metal) measuring spoons so you could mix a ounce or 2 at a time. Not sure about rolling, but spraying, 1 ounce will cover a little over a sq. ft with 2 heavy coats and it will be sandable in 3 hours. Even less if you use a heat lamp

[LouC]

Re: Duratex and MDF finishing questions

so, can it be painted?

It comes in white and can be tinted with water soluble dyes & pigments. If you have a color in mind, Acrytech will try to match paint chips from Sherwin Williams.

I tinted my own for the Amethysts:

[WernerM]

Re: Duratex and MDF finishing questions

Thanks for the info Lou. I forgot you used it for that build. Where did you get your dye from?

[LouC]

Re: Duratex and MDF finishing questions

Thanks for the info Lou. I forgot you used it for that build. Where did you get your dye from?

I bought a kit of WB colors from Homestead Finishing many moons ago. Many had dried out, but they worked fine for this. Also TransTint dyes I had on hand. There are also TransFast powdered pigments available. You can go down to the art store and find stuff too. Or maybe just go down to the paint store and let them try.

Tough to get really dark colors, but lighter pastels aren't too bad. Just do a small quantity.

[[email protected]]

Re: Duratex and MDF finishing questions

thanks Lou. i might try somthing like an Ivory. would latex paint work, or would introduce a chemical problem?

[Psycoacoustics]

Re: Duratex and MDF finishing questions

For the people that are interested. I recieved my Duratex yesterday and have been playing today. I tried the roller they provided, a foam roller from Home Depot and an ordinary roller, along with a foam brush and ordinary brush.

The roller they provided? Way too much texture for me. The foam roller knocked it back a bit but still too much texture for me. The ordinary roller gave me the finish I liked best. So that 's the way I'm going tomorrow. Ordinary roller cover, (3/8 nap I believe) YMMV. In other words,,, test on scrap before you commit to get the finish you like. Mark

[LouC]

Re: Duratex and MDF finishing questions

thanks Lou. i might try somthing like an Ivory. would latex paint work, or would introduce a chemical problem?

Don't know, I stuck with WB dyes and pigments for staining. Maybe some acrylic "craft" paint would work.

[DarrenM]

Re: Duratex and MDF finishing questions

Is the stuff available in quarts. I would like to give this stuff a try

[bkeane1259]

Re: Duratex and MDF finishing questions

Is the stuff available in quarts. I would like to give this stuff a try

No...just this trial sized package: http://store.acrytech.com/Speaker-Ca...Kit-Black.html

[[email protected]]

Re: Duratex and MDF finishing questions

yes, quarts and gallons.

[DarrenM]

Re: Duratex and MDF finishing questions

yes, quarts and gallons.

Awesome. But the trial size is a good thing as well.