How to varnish a staircase?

RicT

I have a staircase from lounger to bedroom. Aside from the strings it is MDF. Until now it has been carpeted and I hate carpet.

Can I varnish MDF? I bought some Cabot CFP oil varnish but then thought maybe I should verify it is OK to do since MDF is wood particles stuck together and maybe solvents in it might damage the MDF.  It used to be said  that you should treat the underside of a table the same as the top side as differential air moisture absorption could cause it to warp.  Anything i need to do on that?

I also want to remove water paint from the strings what is least effort to achieve this?  Can a hot air gun hep?

Thanks in advance.

EricL

Hello @RicT 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's wonderful to have you join us and thanks for sharing your question about your staircase.

I suggest having a look at this discussion - What paint to use on MDF stairs? by @Katze. We truly understand the aesthetic you're aiming for with painted MDF stairs and appreciate the appeal of that finish. Over time, we've explored various options to try and find a reliable solution for this kind of application. Unfortunately, at this stage, none of our suppliers offer a paint product that is tested, recommended, or warrantied for use on MDF flooring surfaces such as stair treads.

While some of our members have experimented with flooring paints in the past, these attempts were outside the scope of manufacturer guidelines. As such, the performance and longevity of these coatings on MDF remain uncertain, and we’re unable to confidently recommend them.

We know this may be disappointing, and we genuinely wish we had a more suitable option to offer. Should anything change in the future or if new products become available, we’ll certainly be revisiting this challenge with the hope of offering a reliable solution.

In regards to removing the paint on the stringers, I suggest using an electric sander to help strip the paint off.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric