Plus, its hard, smooth surface takes veneer and paint very well. Painting MDF requires an understanding of the material, however: It comes from the factory sanded to a 150-grit smoothness ...

½-inch MDF ¼-inch MDF 1 - 1.5 x 9 inches If you want to paint the wood ... a router to cut ⅜" dados along the 9" length of the board. The first is 3 ½" from the top, and the second is ...