I'm planning to build a desk for my workstation and I wanted to have a glossy finish something like this.
I'll be using a 3/4" thick plyboard and plan to cover it with patching compound to have a smooth surface. I'm not really good at DIY and I'm saving some money... but will try my best to get a good result :)
Question 1: Is my approach stupid?
Question 2: What paint would you recommend? Can I use spray paint on this?
Question 3: Any alternative suggestion?
You want a gloss enamel.
Yes, you can use spray paint with it ... although I'd definitely sand it VERY carefully first with an orbital sander and 120 and 220 sandpaper, wipe down with tackcloth very carefully, prime with an oil based primer, sand again with 220, wipe, prime again, and sand AGAIN with 220 or possibly even a finer grit ... you want to make sure that the surface is absolutely perfect before you even try to paint with a gloss paint. Gloss finishes are the hardest to get a decent finish with.
Use thin coats of paint and build it up, trying to make it as even as possible. Don't be afraid to go over it with some 220 and then another finer grit of sandpaper if you feel like you've messed it up. Keep in mind that full cure times for enamel is generally 24+ hours and you'll want it to fully cure before you try to sand it, move it, recoat it, etc.
If you're brave, you can also try rolling it with a foam roller and some penetrol. A pint of gloss enamel shouldn't run you that much, and if you have done the prep right, mix it right, and apply it right you can get just as good a finish as a spray finish... or better if you're not used to finishing surfaces with spray cans or equipment.
If you go the can-and-roller route, avoid Rustoleum and go with something that is good, like Sherwin. If you go with cans, avoid the "Rustoleum Universal" spray cans, the spray heads on them suck. Just regular "Painter's Touch" or Krylon will work fine.
As another approach, you could consider laminate like this from Lowes. It's basically a glossy sheet (1 or so mm thick) that you glue onto your surface and then trim to fit. I've never done it, and I understand it's a bit of a pain to get right (you need to use contact cement, and once that stuff sticks, it's STUCK, so you can't re-position the sheet if you mess up).
That Lowes link isn't, I think, the best price you could find, it's just an example.
The advantage to laminate like this is that you don't have to do quite as much surface prep, and you can get the job done a good bit quicker (no 24 hour dry times). If you get good laminate it can be a very tough finish (many kitchen counters are finished with this type of material).
On the downside it's likely to be a good bit more expensive than paint, and I'm given to understand that doing the trimming properly really requires a router.
