Painting tempered hardboard. In response to a request to show how i prepare a piece of hardboard to use as a support for acrylic and oil painting. We create our eucaboard from harvesting eucalyptus from well managed forests. Tempered hardboard an engineered wood product is made from wood fibers that have been tightly compressed together to form a solid sheet of building material. Regardless of what you choose you must at least prepare and prime it properly before painting if you want it to last.
If its a new piece of hardboard you can go straight to painting. Tempered hardboard may have been manufactured with oil to keep it from warping when wet so it can leach oil through the gesso. It is frequently referred to as masonite because it was invented by william h. Update2409 2018 the primer i use is now diluted pva woodworking glue and 2mm.
The story of hardbord a technical discussion. Hardboard is also commonly covered with gesso or canvas and used by acrylic and oil painters as a painting surface. Its difficult to know whats true and what isnt but considering how cheap and available hardboard is i dont see any point in using anything else. Mason and originally manufactured by the masonite corporation.
Preparation for painting depends on usage of the hardboard. Over the last few years weve received countless calls from customers wanting to understand the conflicting information theyve read or been told on whether hardboard most often referred to as masonite is a good substrate for painting. Untempered hardboard is looser and more fibrous and makes a good surface for painting because of its absorbency. Buying when choosing tempered hardboard for a project determine which manufacturers version of tempered hardboard best fits your needs and purchase all your tempered hardboard for any given project solely from that manufacturer.
Before painting hardboard must be prepped and primed if changing the color of the hardboard.