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August 28, 2008
Painting kitchen cabinets with a sprayer
I have stripped my kitchen cabinets and have been planning to rent a sprayer to paint them, in order to avoid brush strokes.
Has anyone done this and can recommend / not recommend using this method?
Any recommendations for a place to rent a sprayer? I know Home Depot has them but not sure if they are suitable for this application.
Also, the job will have to be done indoors as I have no yard or basement. Is this a recipe for disaster?
Comments
I would sooner use a paintbrush and sand between coats.
JMHO... when I think paint sprayer, I think expedient slumlord.
Posted by: vanburenproud at August 28, 2008 9:27 AM
Absolutely a recipe for disaster! I second the paint/sand option. I painted an old Vespa scooter by this method inside the house with quite acceptable results. Sure, it's time consuming, but it beats having the entire room (and your lungs) coated with the misty overspray.
The process (actually using a roller rather than a brush)is detailed to the nth degree in the following extremely long automobile-related thread;
http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=2331682&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1
Posted by: johnife at August 28, 2008 9:49 AM
You can paint them indoors; professional painters use sprayers all the time. However, you'll have to basically devote an entire room to the job, covering walls, floor and ceiling with plastic and drop cloths. And use a respirator, obviously.
I would say, though, that if you've never done it before, your cabinets aren't the place to practice. I've used a sprayer on exterior siding and while it wasn't difficult, it was a little tricky to get everything working correctly. I also had someone backbrushing to eliminate drips etc.
IMO you should try a brush first, say on the back side, and see how it comes out. Try adding Floetrol to the paint as it will improve leveling and slow drying time a bit.
Posted by: Bolder at August 28, 2008 10:01 AM
Which type of finish do you plan to use? The answer to that will determine the appropriate course of action.
Posted by: southslope at August 28, 2008 10:19 AM
Don't use a regular Paint Sprayer. You need to rent a HVLP Sprayer (High Velocity Low Pressure). Also called a Fine Finish Sprayer. Practice on a scrap piece of wood until you get the technique down. Watch the overspray!!!!
Don Perrone
Perrone Maintenance & Construction Corp
1-800-761-7847
http://www.PerroneMaintenance.com
Posted by: Perrone at August 28, 2008 10:57 AM
I used to work at cabinetmaking. I would never attempt to spray cabs without the proper ventilation We had a whole room devoted to spraying with a high-powered dust collection system; I would imagine doing it yourself even in a plastic-covered room is just asking for disaster.
I agree, however, that using an oil-based enamel, slightly thinned and doing multiple coats while sanding between coats (coat, sand with 220, coat, sand with 320, thin paint slightly more and coat for third and final time) is the answer. It will be time consuming and require thoughtful application, but in the end the result will be spectacular and you'll be glad you took the time.
A side note- make some stands by driving long nails through pieces of plywood. These will allow you to get your cabinet carcasses off the floor but still allow you to paint the side resting solely omn the nails. When dry, simply sand the small dimples the nails left in the paint and touch-up.
Good luck- I personally love this sort of project but I realize that I'm in the minority.
Posted by: houseowax at August 28, 2008 11:21 AM
I just did a bathroom cabinet using those small, dense white sponge rollerst and the paint (high gloss water based enamel) went on really smooth. No bumps or lines. I was very pleased.
However, I was not going for the top of the line permanent solution. I was just doing this as a stop gap until I can redo the bathroom.
If you're doing a "for-keeps" project Houseowax's instructions are dead on.
Posted by: TownhouseLady at August 28, 2008 11:59 AM
I have heard people get great results with a product called CabinetCoat by Insl-X. Brushmarks smooth out and the finish is supposed to be durable. Limited colors though I think
Even though you would work indoors, I would try to ventilate as much as possible. You wouldn't have to worry about overspray though.
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Posted by: cathy2705 at August 30, 2008 12:08 PM
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