Removed veneer from kitchen unit, but find it's chipboard - painting query.

[banzy 1]

Hi,

I'm a complete and utter DIY novice, and with a Paris apartment at least hundred years old, and a kitchen quite literally out of the 1960's, I was looking to do a little bit of renovation on a budget.

I had been under the impression the kitchen units were of high quality - designed and custom built to fit the kitchen. I bought the various bits and pieces to sand down the wood, treat it and then paint it, but as I pulled down the veneer (which didn't prove hard given its age), it seems the main frame of the unit is good wood, but the sides, underside and doors are chipboard!

I really don't want to go down the veneer route again, but I would imagine chipboard is quite porous and not particular suited to painting, and am not sure my current product would properly seal it anyway. I was wondering if anybody out there could tell me what my options might be? Is is possible to get some product that could give it a smoother surface receptive to painting? There's another unit like the one in the photograph facing opposite, 3 cupboards wide by 2 high that needs sorting too. They're also highly placed, and a step-ladder is needed to get access to the high ones, but it's a small kitchen so these units are vital.

[verne 1]

its a great pity. i like 1960's stuff. looks like doors were faced with plastic laminate. usually these should be considered an assembly with the facing outside and to prevent the door from warping a similar laminate, usually in a neutral colour, was bonded to the inside and the edges finished with a propriety extrusion to discourage moisture.

without the outer covering doors are likely to warp unless some luck is present...

there is a number of ways to seal chipboard. making it smooth is the hard bit...

pva solutions. thinned paint or varnish. ready made floor sealers...

for smoothing; fine surface fillers are good, or plaster of paris with a little pva. if it was my job i would take those doors down to my local car painter and have a couple of coats of high build primer sprayed on them...