Particle board is a building material that many people use for various projects. You might be using it for one DIY project or another right now.
If you’ve never worked with particle boards before, then you might be worried about getting things right. Particle boards won’t be as durable as they need to be if you don’t take the time to seal it properly.
Even if you don’t know how to do this yet, it’s best not to worry. You can seal particle boards easily so long as you understand what steps to take.
Below, you’re going to learn about all of the steps that are necessary to seal a particle board. It’ll ensure that everything is as durable as possible and you’ll be very happy with the results.
Is Sealing Particle Board Truly Necessary?
You won’t want to skip the sealing process if you’re using a particle board for a project. When you don’t seal the particle board, it’s going to be substantially less durable.
A sealed particle board can withstand a greater amount of weight. Also, it’ll be able to deal with things such as rain, snow, and even extreme heat.
You apply the sealer to the boards and then you’re able to use them for whatever you need. It’ll make it so that you don’t have to worry about the boards becoming dilapidated over time.
Applying sealants to the particle boards won’t be all that difficult either. Don’t be intimidated by the process because you’re going to be able to handle this just fine.
Safety First
Before going any further, you’re going to want to get the things that you need to do this job safely. This means gathering pieces of equipment such as safety goggles, a protective mask, and work gloves.
Having safety equipment will keep you from harming yourself while you’re sealing the particle boards. It’s always best to have this equipment when you’re doing DIY projects.
Particle boards are made using materials such as wood chips, sawdust, and various types of glue. As you cut into the particle boards, bits will go flying into the air.
Wearing a mask and safety goggles will keep bits of the particle board from getting into your eyes or your mouth. You absolutely don’t want to do this without all of the necessary safety equipment.
Now that you’ve taken the right steps to protect yourself, you’re ready to move on. It’s time to start sealing the particle boards.
Start Measuring and Marking the Particle Boards
Begin by measuring and marking the particle boards. Use a marker to mark the areas that you’re going to be placing the particle boards.
Grab a measuring tape to measure the total size of the area as well. You want to have accurate width and height measurements that you can use.
Go ahead and mark the same measurements on the particle boards themselves. Ensure that the measurements are accurate before proceeding.
One thing to avoid is mistaking the width and height measurements. Ensure that you’re marking the width and height on the boards correctly.
Even one wrong measurement will wind up throwing everything off. Thus, it’s best to take things slow to ensure greater accuracy.
Cut Your Boards Carefully
This is another part of the process that you don’t want to rush. Even if you’re confident with using a jigsaw or a circular saw, it’ll be wise to take things slow.
Cut the boards out to match the measurements that you just took. You should simply be cutting along the markings that you made.
You’re going for accuracy rather than speed with this step. This ensures that you’re doing things safely and that the boards will turn out properly.
Eventually, you’ll finish cutting all of the boards. Check things out to see if you did everything right based on your measurements.
Time to Apply the Sealant
It’s finally time to go through with applying the sealant. If you want to get ideal results, then it’s recommended to apply clear acrylic sealant to the boards.
You should be able to get everything that you need from the local hardware store. Plus, you can always ask for recommendations if you’re having trouble choosing a specific brand.
Take the time to give the sealant can a proper shake to mix the ingredients together. Doing this will help you to get things to turn out how you want them to.
When you’re done, get a small paintbrush and start applying the sealant to the particle boards. You should be trying to apply even layers of sealant around the boards.
Just put a small amount of sealant on the paintbrush each time. Try to be patient and do the work to get the sealant spread out evenly on the boards.
This might take some time to accomplish depending on how big your DIY project is. After some time has passed, you’ll be done with the application phase.
Allow the Sealant to Dry
The sealant is going to need to be given the time to dry now. You want it to dry completely before you do anything else with the particle boards.
Once you’re sure that everything is dry, you’ll want to go ahead and inspect the particle boards to see how things went. Look around to see if there are spots that you might have missed.
Now you should apply a second coat of sealant to the particle boards. This essentially prevents you from being able to miss spots.
You’ll be able to feel confident that every bit of the particle board has been sealed properly. Go through the process the same way that you did when applying the first coat.
Then it’ll be time to allow the sealant to dry once more. If you’re impatient, then try to listen to some music or distract yourself with some other form of entertainment while you wait.
When the particle boards have dried a second time, the sealing will be completely done. You’ll be ready to use them for whatever it is you’re trying to do.
Place the boards properly and finish your DIY project. You’ll know that the boards will be as durable as possible since you took the time to seal them the right way.
Is Particle Board Better Than Plywood?
Some people decide to use plywood for DIY projects instead of particle board. Particle boards can be more convenient to use in certain ways.
You’re able to get particle boards at very good prices when shopping at local hardware stores. Plywood is going to cost more money, but it’s more durable than particle board.
So plywood is probably better for most projects than particle board. However, it might be more practical to use particle board if you’re on a strict budget.
If money isn’t an issue, then using plywood will likely be preferable. It just comes down to how much you want to spend and what you’re trying to accomplish.
One material isn’t going to be any easier to work with than the other. Generally, both will be simple to use for the same types of projects.
Is it Possible to Fix Damaged Particle Boards?
So what should you do if one of the particle boards gets damaged? Do you just need to throw it out and get a new one or can it be repaired?
It really depends on just how damaged the board is. If the damage is minor, then you can probably fix it up just fine.
If the board is damp, then you’re going to need to dry it before moving forward. This can be accomplished using a hairdryer if you want things to go fast.
Then you’ll want to sand the damaged area down. Clean things up and apply sealant to the damaged board.
After a few hours, it should dry and you’ll be able to reinstall the board. Hopefully, you won’t even have to deal with issues such as this if things go as planned.
Final Thoughts
You can seal particle boards easily if you know the right steps to take. It actually isn’t that hard to accomplish.
Before starting, be sure to have safety equipment to protect yourself. You need a protective mask, safety goggles, and gloves to do things right.
You’ll be marking the boards and measuring everything out. Then you’ll be cutting the boards based on your measurements.
When the boards have been cut, you’ll be able to start sealing them. Apply the sealant evenly and try not to miss spots on the boards.
Let the sealant dry and then inspect the boards. Do a second coat to ensure that everything has truly been sealed properly.
When the sealant dries a second time, you’ll be ready to install the boards. You’ll be able to complete your DIY project without it being a big issue.
This isn’t something that should intimidate you. You can accomplish this so long as you don’t rush things.
Rushing things can lead to mistakes, but you’ll get good results if you take things slow. Follow the advice above and your particle boards will be ready to be used for whatever you’re trying to do.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Film/Video/Media Studies, as well as an associates degree in Communications. I began producing videos and musical recordings nearly 15 years ago. I am a guitarist and bassist in Southwest MI and have been in a few different bands since 2009, and in 2012 I began building custom guitars and basses in my home workshop as well. When I’m home, I love spending time with my three pets (a dog, cat, and snake) and gardening in my backyard.