Replies

1. 
   Shep | Oct 23, 2004 02:12am | #1

     The only thing I can add is to sand the formica so the primer can grab better.

2. 
   barmil | Oct 23, 2004 03:22am | #2

   It'll work. I've done this also. Not wanting to sand everything, I've used Zinsser 1-2-3 and had no adhesion problems. Because of the grease problems with kitchen cabinets, be sure to clean well with ammonia or TSP beforehand.

3. 
   DonCanDo | Oct 23, 2004 04:14am | #3

   I've had a few customers ask me about this and I've experimented a bit.  The best results were achieved by a very thorough sanding followed by shellac-based primer.

   However, in my opinion, nothing really adhered well enough to stand up to the kind of use that kitchen cabinets typically see.  I was not willing to paint their cabinets because I was afraid I would be called back repeatedly to fix "peeling" paint.

   If they were my own cabinets, I might consider it because touch-up would be much easier.

   -Don

1. 
   IronHelix | Oct 23, 2004 04:56am | #4

   DW & i did a large set in our house about 1990......

   Heed the previous warning about degreasing!!!!!!

   We used liquid sandpaper as an adhesion enhanser...our formica fronts were not high gloss, but a matte/semi gloss formica finish.

   Primered with an oil based primer and fniished with two coats of oil based eggshell enamel.  You'll be lucky to find oil based paints any more!!

   Yes sir it was tender for several months....a few retouches. But it did very well under heavy use until we removed same during an extensive remodeled in 98'.  

   We installed about half of the old face painted cabinets into a basement  L shaped utility area  (&'x14')and installed the old wall oven as a #2 oven.  Still there today and in good condition.....

   Lots of work though................Iron Helix

4. 
   butch | Oct 23, 2004 01:20pm | #5

   for a primer look for X-I-M

   don't no who makes it, but it will stick to glass and anything else you want to paint

1. 
   Sbds | Oct 23, 2004 05:51pm | #6

   Thanks for all the tips

5. 
   cynwyd | Oct 23, 2004 07:04pm | #7

   There is a mention of X-I-M, which I think was a Zissner product but their site doesn't list it.

   They do claim;

   Step 3 - Prime and Paint your Kitchen Cabinets

   Prime the clean, dry surfaces with B-I-N¯ shellac-base primer-sealer. Unlike finish paints, B-I-N will adhere to all cabinet surfaces – painted, polyurethaned, unfinished, Formica, plastic, metal and glass – to form a sound base for the topcoat. B-I-N will seal porous surfaces, like new wood, and seal off knots and sappy streaks in knotty pine so they won’t bleed through and ruin the paint job. Its bright white formula blocks out dark stains and colors. Best of all, there is no need to sand the surface when you use B-I-N, thus eliminating the dust and messy clean up often associated with cabinet refinishing.