What is My NON WOOD desk made of ??? (granite, laminate, paint)

[nancy ellen]

I want to paint my desk which is not real wood, but how do i find out what its made of before choosing the paint type?

[chet everett]

Do you have a magnet? If it sticks you have a desk made of ferrous metal.

But seriously most "non wood" desks are probably a core of MDF with some kind of high-pressure laminate like Formica. Formica is notoriously hard to paint, as both the slight texture and the plastic-like coating cause paint to peel off. There are now some specialized products designed to allow you to paint such surfaces and make a kind of "faux granite" finish. That might work. Call the paint company's customer support lines...

[Pitt Chick]

We certainly cannot know if it is plastic, melamine, metal, etc....

Whatever the material, sanding and priming are a must!

[CTR36]

Krylon makes a type of spray paint that will paint anything! I love their spray paints. You don't even have to sand it or prime it I have painted dozens of items ranging from wicker, melamine to plastic with that paint. It's the one that says Krylon plastic on it. Walmart and Home Depot carry it. It is a bit pricier but I have found spray painting is sooo much easier. No brush marks.
I have many projects I've painted on my blog here Nuestras aventuras en Texas Good luck! And if you have any questions or want to send me a pic of your desk you can send me a DM.
I love painting furniture!!