If you’re painting particle board furniture, it might be easier to disassemble it and paint each piece individually. If you can, follow the assembly instructions in reverse to carefully take apart the item you want to paint. Make sure that you store all of the fittings, hardware, screws, and anything else you take out of the particle board somewhere where it won’t get lost.
Particle board is a very soft wood, which makes it easier to work with and move around, but also easier to scratch and damage. Use only light pressure when sanding to avoid damaging your particle board. Use a vacuum cleaner or shop-vac to remove any dust that comes off the board while sanding it. To avoid getting the inside of your home messy, sand, prime, and paint your particle board outside.
A water-based primer will seep into the particle board and cause it to swell up. Always use an oil-based or solvent-based primer when painting particle boards. Oil-based primer should be available at your local hardware store. If you’re unsure which type to use, ask an employee for help choosing the right primer and paint for you.
Check the manufacturer’s instructions for your chosen primer for more specific advice on how long it will take to dry. You can check if the primer is fully dry by scratching at it lightly with a fingernail. If the primer is dry, a fingernail scratch won’t leave a mark or remove any primer. [5] X Research source
If you have a paint sprayer, you could also use this to evenly paint the particle board. Work in thin layers to make sure the paint is applied evenly and dries quickly. Oil or lacquer-based paints will work best for painting particle boards. However, if you have primed the wood with an oil-based primer, you should be able to use water-based paint without the particle board absorbing any water. A variety of different colored paints should be available at your local hardware store. Choose one that you like and that will work well with the other colors in the room where you’ll put your finished particle board.
If you live in a colder or more humid environment, it may take longer for your paint to dry. It’s better to give it more time than it needs to dry than it is to move on while the paint is still wet. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions on your chosen paint for more specific advice on how long it will take to dry.
With most particle board, it will take between 2 and 4 layers of paint to completely cover the primer.
The paint may still be soft when you begin reassembling your particle board, so make sure you work carefully. Alternately, you can leave your particle board to dry for 12 to 24 hours before reassembling it.
