I am shopping for cabinets for our home redo. Can anyone suggest a high bridge or building nearby? What a daunting little task.
I am pushed by advice givers in several ways. I like the idea of custom, but I am told that the poly finishs from small shops will not be as tough as catalyzed ones from the big boys. When I think about catalysed on veneer vs poly on solid doors, I sort of wonder about value and durability. I like the grain matching of veneer. But the real stuff in solid can be recoated and won’t have an edge strip peel off.
I know that is sort a broad sweep, but tell me what you guys who do this for a living think.
“Democracy is when the people know exactly what they want, and get it good and hard.” HL Mencken
Replies
I'd imagine most small shops around here are spraying pre-catalized lacquer. In California, where I think the EPA has something to say about it, all bets are off.
As long as prep is done well, coating thickness adequate and any stain is compatible, it's a fairly tough finish, and was industry standard for years. It won't take the abuse of conversion varnish, which is somewhat harder to use but more durable...really tough. The finishes most Big Dogs crow about is conversion in some form or another.
Some may use nitro-lacquer but that's probably dimishing somewhat...pre-cat is better for your kitchen.
It would surprise me if many production shops were using poly...long dry time in comparision to lacq. or conversion.
Water base finishes can be great...or sh*t. I've seen five year old cabinets with finish flaking like a bad sunburn. On the other hand I sprayed some drawers a few years ago and they're holding up very well. Many of the WB finishes seem to get real hard, a blessing and a curse. The blessing is durability, the curse seems to be inability to move with wood and or simply adhesion...I'm no chemist, but the failures spook me some.
I wouldn't be afraid of pre-cat unless it was a hard use situation, and demanded some real tough stuff.
PJ
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.
Edited 8/13/2005 8:59 pm ET by PeterJ
You can find smaller shops that do true customs that use catalyzed finishes. Many small shops turn out excellent finishes.
Ask to see the paint shop and the shops typical finish application.
Site finished is another alternative. In a large cabinet installation having the cabinet's finished after installation allows for better a fit (scribing and fitting of accessories such as fillers and crown). Many of the painters in our area use products that stand up to abuse and time.
Wood is Good
Adam Greisz
Thanks. I had not thought about the "show me the can of stuff you use" way of investigating. It may all be pissing in the wind as we don't have destructive pets or kids to take whacks at the finish."Democracy is when the people know exactly what they want, and get it good and hard." HL Mencken