MDF to wood... critique it... - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

b34nz · 12-07-2006, 12:39 AM

OK so recently a client dropped off a sample, an ugly sample at that, but a sample.

So, we finished these interior MDF doors to match their sample.
I just upped the pics to our site, check them out and say what you think.

Maybe I should post a picture of the sample on here so you can compare that too.

rservices · 12-07-2006, 09:53 AM

Looks nice,
I've never done glazing whats the steps

JMGP · 12-07-2006, 10:48 AM

wow... very nice!! They cant complain about that...

Are you just trying to show off???...

j/k

Tell us the steps you took... and what you used... I dont do a lot of glazing doors... want tips/tricks....

AAPaint · 12-07-2006, 01:49 PM

Dude.....my jaw is on the floor. What is their problem? Your work on those doors is probably the best I've ever seen, and I'm not being silly here.
I am extremely impressed, and I'd love to hear how you do it.

If someone is complaining I have a tree out back we can throw a rope over.

b34nz · 12-07-2006, 01:55 PM

Supplies:

>All lacquer sealers, topcoats, and primers
>Stains are all oil based and thinned down with some "Mystery oil" my boss gives me. Refuses to tell me what it is after 6years working here. lmao
>Lots of green 3M tape
>Sanding Sponges (220grit...I think...maybe 150)
>And natural brushes for dry brushing

======================

1. Prime and sand
2. Prime and sand
3. Prime and sand
4. Paint (a maple color tone lacquer precat)
5. Seal and sand
6. A chocolate color stain, no idea what brand because the label was ripped off the can. This is the step where I add the "grain". I dry brush this off to get the grain look.
7. Seal
8. Medium brown walnut stain. (Mohawk wiping stain)
9. Seal
10. Japan colors glaze - extra dark walnut. I used this stuff for the dark lines and fly spec
11. Seal
12. Perfect brown stain. (Mohawk wiping stain)
13. Hood Products precat lacquer topcoat / dull satin sheen
14. Sand
15. Hood Products precat lacquer topcoat / dull satin sheen

And I forgot to add the first thing I did was distressing and making fake joints with an ice pick and a square.

Then rip the tape off, and tape the door in the other direction and repeat #1-15. Then flip the door and do it again. Sounds more complicated than it is. When I get off work, I'll post a pic of the sample the client gave us.

b34nz · 12-07-2006, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AAPaint

Dude.....my jaw is on the floor. What is their problem? Your work on those doors is probably the best I've ever seen, and I'm not being silly here.
I am extremely impressed, and I'd love to hear how you do it.

If someone is complaining I have a tree out back we can throw a rope over.

Nobody is complaining, I asked everyone in the shop what they thought and they liked it too. The client likes it as well.

But, sometimes clients have bad taste, and maybe the people from the shop have a biased opinion. Personally I don't like it all that much and figured I'd get a str8 answer here.

AAPaint · 12-07-2006, 04:16 PM

Seriously, those are an absolute masterpiece. To do that with masonite doors is deserving of bragging rights, period.

b34nz · 12-07-2006, 04:46 PM

well cool

I ask my boss what he thinks about stuff and it's always the same reply. A mumbling comment under his breath like "yea, they're fine". lol

Once every few months I will manage to get a "Good work." comment out of him. =o

metomeya · 12-07-2006, 05:03 PM

green 3M tape?

Does it have a better bond than regular masking tape or something?

DeanV · 12-07-2006, 05:19 PM

The green tape is needed for lacquer work, otherwise there may be issues with the solvent and the adhesive and the regular blue does not stick as well to lacquer.

By the way, great job, but wouldn't it be cheaper for them to just buy a wood door?

b34nz · 12-07-2006, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metomeya

green 3M tape?

Does it have a better bond than regular masking tape or something?

It's like a mix between blue and regular masking tape.
Also, it can stand up to lacquer thinner. The blue tape melts and gets messy when lacquer hits it. But the normal masking tape is too strong and will sometimes rip off paint or topcoat. So the green tape is a better option.

b34nz · 12-07-2006, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeanV

The green tape is needed for lacquer work, otherwise there may be issues with the solvent and the adhesive and the regular blue does not stick as well to lacquer.

By the way, great job, but wouldn't it be cheaper for them to just buy a wood door?

BINGO

We try to explain this to the home owners and contractors all the time. We tell them they are spending more money by trying to save money. If they would just buy the friggin doors in solid wood they would actually SAVE money. But they don't listen.

We got $7,000 for these doors and some other small parts. (8 colums the same height as the doors, and about 100 feet of small trim)

If they had just done it in maple, the job would have cost a fraction lol
The funny thing is, the columns and trim were actually made of maple, but we had to paint over it so it would match the sample and the MDF doors.

The entire thing is retarded.

JNLP · 12-07-2006, 06:02 PM

I agree it's stupid for people to have some of the stuff done that they do rather than buy it that way. That is art though. It is truely great work that no average person could do.

b34nz · 12-07-2006, 06:15 PM

There's the original sample the client gave us that they wanted matched. Of course the origional sample was done on real wood.

**Teetorbilt** · 12-07-2006, 07:01 PM

Very nice job! Too bad that it was done on crappy doors. I know, it was the boss.

What's a few extra bucks on a job like that?

On the upside, if all of the edges were sealed, and with that many coats, they still ought to last for a lifetime.

dougchips · 12-07-2006, 07:43 PM

Not like you need someone else to say they look great.....they look great, nice work!

Danahy · 12-07-2006, 07:44 PM

Very impressive work...

metomeya · 12-08-2006, 11:31 AM

I feel silly now asking a question and not saying what a great job you did. Especially after seeing that last pic.

Awesome Job!

b34nz · 12-08-2006, 12:41 PM

Thanks guys.
I'm going to show my boss this thread and tell him to shove it! He hates telling me I have done good work

furiousstyles · 12-08-2006, 06:24 PM

Dude, this is friggin ART! Wow. Real good stuff.