Painting new cabinet faces and frames
I need to paint some new Poplar wood cabinet door faces that I just bought from Sherr’s (sp). I want to brush them and intend to sand, raise the grain w/ a damp rag, sand, wipe with a tack rag then prime. I’d like the final product tp be very durable and prefer that the doors/ drawer fronts not chip. I am thinking of using Zinsser Cover Stain Stain killer and bond coat” as the primer as I think it will bond very well w/ the poplar wood. Then two oil based top coats. First is this a smart wat to go. Second, I recall reading in the Finehombuilding magazine about a paint that lays very smoothly when brushed but for the life of me I can’t find the article. Any brands that you painters like ???
Replies
Enamel tends to be "self leveling" so brush marks disappear if you lay the enamel on (sort of like with varnish) and don't fool much with it after that. There are also flow enhancing products you add to the paint to improve "brushability". A paint store might be able to direct you--don't bother asking at a "homecenter".
For good brands, Consumer reports recently had a review of paints, but I think mostly wall paints. I would think a good oil based enamel would be durable--others will probably reply and may disagree; some have said that oil tends to get brittle with age, so maybe latex enamel would be better.
Edited 8/26/2004 8:48 pm ET by Danno
Varathane goes on like a laquar finish
The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
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Use an alklyd primer, lightly sand. Talk to the Benjamin Moore guys and find the best primer from them. Im not sold on zinser primers for a cabinet base. It goes on too thick and a stain blocker isnt what you need. Then use BM Satin Impervo Oil tinted to your color. IM sold on it as the best oil, its durable and it brushes like a dream out of the can or brushes like a w3t dream when you add some penetrol.
Lightly sanding the primer will even out brush marks from your primer, which will telegraph through your paint. Impervo is extremely durable but its only as good as your primer.
SInce your brushing, make sure you buy a GOOD brush, china bristle. Dont skimp on a brush, it will show in the end. Expect to pay around 20-30 dollars for a good brush from wooster or sherwin williams.
Vince,
About 6 years ago, my wife decided she was tired of the very dark kitchen cabinets in our house. At the time, the house was 20 years old. These cabinets were VERY dark walnut brown. Almost black.
I repainted the cabinets using KILZ as a primer, then Varthane Almond enamel. The attached pics were taken a few minutes ago. I took the doors off and did them laying flat in the garage. Wiped everything with lacquer thinner, deglossed / sanded with scotchbrite pads, then started painting. I am pretty sure that it only took one coat of the KILZ, but its been a while so I cannot say for sure. I am almost certain I did two coats of the Varthane. I did both sides of the doors, and the frames with the Varthane, but took the easy way out on the inside of the cabinets, used a gloss latex enamel for all the interiors. I would think that since you are starting with new, bare wood, all you would need would be a good sealer for the first coat. Probably depends somewhat on the final color you will be using.
Everyone that came to visit after I did them could not believe that they were not new cabinets. They really look beautiful, and have held up very well. I still have about 1/2 a quart of the original paint, and what few chips there have been chips touch up very nicely with a bit of paint thinned down with mineral spirits.
I dont know if the formulation of the Varthane has changed over the years, but be prepared for a very long dry time. If I remember correctly it took several hours just to be dry to the touch, and 24 hr to recoat. The one nice thing about it is that it flows ou to where you cannot see any brush marks.
Definitely follow the advice on a good brush. I used a 2" China bristle that was handed down to me from my Father.
Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md
Edited 8/26/2004 10:45 pm ET by MrBill