I have finally found a local lumber yard that carries, in stock, less than $9 a sheet, MASONITE!. Tempered 1/8 inch Masonite in 4’ x 8’ sheets! (20 years ago they would order it for me if I bought 500 sheets - Yeh! Right!) Not Home Cheapo BTW. Anyway, the question is… Do you use a primer on the smooth side first or just paint it? If you use a primer, what do you recommend?
Thankx in advance!
I prime it with Kilz 2 white pigmented Latex sealer/primer so the paint will adhere better. If you don’t prime it, you will probably need two coats of latex paint to get good coverage.
2 comments:
Home Depot does carry Masonite, less than $8 sheet in Oregon
Kilz Original will give you a smoother under coat, but you MUST have a warm place to apply it where there is NO SOURCE OF IGNITION, since it is flammable.
Thanks guys! I will get some Kilz.
(pastor marvin, I try to shop locally when possible. It would certainly be a lot more than $8 a sheet if I had to drive from NY to Oregon to load up my pick up truck when I factor in the cost of gas… Sorry, I just couldn’t help myself! [}:)] LOL Actually there is a Home Cheapo about 35 miles from where I live. Never cared for the place. Too big, the kids that work there always have to send me a mile and a half to the other end of the store to ask someone when I ask a question, and I like to give my business to locally owned and operated stores that pay taxes and such to help my community rather than the pockets of rich investors somewhere else. End of sermon!)
Traveling expenses and local shopping are points well to be considered. However, I live in Washington and the nearest Hardware/building material places just happen to be across the mighty Columbia (40 miles) or West a hundred plus miles to the big cities - Yuck -
Further consideration - if you have any changes in humidity you would be advised to paint BOTH sides of the Masonite, or plywood for those who might go that route, to improve stability.
Kilz (oil base) and Kilz 2 (water base) are both very good primers, actually great primers, but may not be necessary. They are formulated to block any staining/bleed though, which really isn’t needed on a fresh sheet of masonite.
Just thought it was worth a mention, as the Kilz products are a lot more costly then a “run of the mill” white primer, which would most likely work equally well.
Wow! I consider myself very lucky to have 4 good to excellent locally owned Lumber yards/Hardware stores within a 15 mile radius of where I live (plus one chain store which is quite good also not to mention another hugeco place 15 miles to the west). Shopping for hardware and lumber is no problem for me.
I assume you’ll be using the 1/8" thick masonite for backdrops? I use any reasonably white latex paint available. For my backdrops I cover with off white wall primer found in 5 gallon pails. I had some left over from covering my shop interior walls. I try to do this off layout because I like to sand and then clean down the primer before beginning backdrop painting.
If I knew how to insert an image I’d show you a picture. Better go read the help file. [:D]
Tom
Masonite can be glued, drilled or screwed into, but won’t allow nails. Just in case you planned to use it for other than a fascia or backdrop.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it “won’t allow” nails, but it sure is a pain to try and start them with a hammer. Pre drilling makes a huge difference. Of course then you have the heads showing.
As for priming, I’m from the school of what works, not necessarily what’s right. I don’t prime. The tempered stuff seems to be fine without. This isn’t like exterior siding which is exposed to the weather. Regular latex paint should stick without peeling under layout conditions in a conditioned space. For a garage layout it might be worth doing.
I’ll have to WOW too!
I’m in Ray’s boat regarding availability of lumber and hardware. I’m in the Northwoods of rural Minnesota with three relatively small towns located 12 to 15 miles from my home. None of them are major thriving metropolis, by any stretch of the imagination and yet, I have six lumber yards and five hardware stores! On the other hand the closest Hobby Shop is 85 mile to the S. E.