Using Woodstain instead of paint on MDF, Any tips or tricks please?

[Johnny Boy]

A very good evening to you one and all. In a previous thread I had some great suggestions for for painting some barracks buildings one of which was the use of Woodstain which I was rather taken with. However, being clueless in using Woodstain any suggestions for a manufacturer, colours and generally the best way to use it would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance
JB

[Fitz]

I'd use a spirit-based stain, or maybe oil-based, rather than a water-based stain for MDF. Unlike paints, stains are intended to penetrate relatively deeply, and when water penetrates MDF it swells and distorts.

Spirit stains dry a lot faster than oil stains, but generally require a protective top-coat of oil or varnish. That's less necessary with an oil stain, but in general it's still a good idea.

You can get a variant type of stain which is usually marketed as "varnish stain", which is a transparent pigment suspended in a polyurethane or acrylic medium. They act more like paints than true stains; they can be really handy for "dip" glazing effects.

The specific brand names will vary depending on where you live.

[snitcythedog]

Whatever stain, I highly suggest you use test it on the surplus material rather than the building parts themselves. 

[Johnny Boy]

Many thanks one and all. I think I'll try and find a good Matt stain and try from there.

[SotF]

One thing that I've seen used well is to skip the normal stains entirely, there's the stain markers that a LOT of railroad builders use for MDF and similar kits.

[eilif]

Test the stain on both plain MDF and on MDF pieces that have been glued together.  Some stains will look considerably different on MDF with and without glue.  Possibly to the point that with certain stains you will want to stain before assembly.

[Johnny Boy]

One thing that I've seen used well is to skip the normal stains entirely, there's the stain markers that a LOT of railroad builders use for MDF and similar kits.

Test the stain on both plain MDF and on MDF pieces that have been glued together.  Some stains will look considerably different on MDF with and without glue.  Possibly to the point that with certain stains you will want to stain before assembly.

Really interesting and useful tips so once again many thanks, the input is much appreciated and I'm looking forward to getting on with my project.

[eilif]

Really interesting and useful tips so once again many thanks, the input is much appreciated and I'm looking forward to getting on with my project.

You're very welcome! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.