We are trying to reproduce this strie finish for a client. We are using SW Universal Primer tinted black, then SW lacquer black, letting the topcoat flash then laying a brush stroke at a 45-degree angle trying to drag out the finish. We cannot get clean clear lines. The paint wants to keep leveling out which makes the finish look muddy.

Trying to figure out the process to get the lines tight and clean.

Any thoughts would be helpful.

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Skip the paint. Use the primer, no or very little thinning. Spray it, let it flash and brush it like you were doing.

Let it dry. Use a clearcoat, thinned for your top coat. Even if it does level out the brushing will stay pretty crisp.

You sure it's not wire brushed wood?

You will need to run it through a machine with a cylindrical wire brush before the finish starts.

Not sure about that Rich. In the upper left hand section of the photo the striations cross each other. Something a wire brush machine wouldn't do. Which is why I posed it as a question.

Leo, the original sample we were given was on MDF.

Then I'll stick with my first response of using the tinted primer, let it set, brush it, let it dry and then clear coat with a thinned version.

When I look closely at the photo I see regularly spaced comb pattern in a small width. I don't think a brush will achieve the depth of striation you want.
What about a fine grained pore filler that has gelled to just the right consistency?
Or just go the easy route and buy Stevens Rain textured black melamine which looks exactly like that.

If this is really MDF, done from scratch, i would not spend my time trying to reproduce this.

A fairly thick coat of something was put on top, and then a wire brush or comb was used to make the grain.

This is a ton of work vs buying textured melamine that will look exactly the same: https://metrohardwoods.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Rain1.jpg

If you were trying to repro this on hardwood, that might be worth the time. But i'd just sell the client on using textured melamine and call it a day.

Thanks for the response. I do like the melamine idea. The problem is this is going in a high end retail store and they not going to accept it.

Thanks for the response. I do like the melamine idea. The problem is this is going in a high end retail store and they not going to accept it.

There is a matching plastic laminate for that melamine. Way tougher than MDF and paint. You can sell it on it's durability

So maybe they used a Makita 9741 wire brush machine instead of a wide drum, but getting a uniform layer of something and then combing it will be extremely hard to match from door to door. And you can wire brush MDF too.

textured laminate would be an upgrade in a retail/commercial environment. Why do something that's more difficult and not as durable/maintenance free. I just priced something similar, and can get laid up sheets of formica for around 160.00. Im a painter and love painting, but the love wont be appreciated in a retail store, and there is no difference in the look

How large is the piece in the photo?
How much surface area will be needed?
How many sheets... Or sq. Ft in total?