Replies

1. 
   ring | May 13, 2005 12:01pm | #1

   I would use that outsourcing option for several reasons:

   1.  If you're starting a business you need to occupy yourself right now with 100 different things that no one else can do for you.  Here's at least one aspect that you can take care of and not have to worry about it for now.

   2.  Someone with spray equipment and experience will get you much more quickly to the results you need, with minimum experimenting.  Later on, when things are up and ruinning smoothly, you can decide whether or not to set up to do it yourself.   

   3.  The advantages to spraying in a production of this kind can't be overstated.  He can spray a finish coat on all 4 sides of the box before your first side is dry and ready to turn.  I wouldn't be surprised if the time saved is not equal to the added cost you would be paying for the sub-contractor.

   best of luck,

   DR

2. 
   hairball | May 13, 2005 12:52pm | #2

       I have to agree with ring. Any time you can outsource an operation and still make money on it, you have hit a home run. Concentrate on whatever your specialty is and let someone else take care of whatever would be a burden on you. A prime example is my current situation. I am certified in every solid surface product on the market (Corian, Gibraltar, etc.) but it's not worth my time to get involved with it because I'm not properly set up for it. It's much easier to let a dedicated shop take care of it.

1. 
   rockinrob | May 14, 2005 12:03pm | #3

   Thanks for the advice.Here are my issues with subbing it out;I need the finish to be extremely durable and was going to use a polyurethane. He only sprays a laquer (nitro I suppose). He doesn't stain his cabinets, he only "tones" them -adding color to the laquer. To be honest this somewhat appeals to me. I won't be able to control things and get certaint effects, but for stuff like oak it really makes things easier. The only problems are I plan to do some inlay work and toning that and the rest of the cabinet the same color won't work, and also if they get scratched past the top clear coat it can be really difficult to fix and match colors (or so I've read). That coupled with the fact that nitro is a less durable finish makes me nervous.I maybe able to just have him spray a clear coat and stain them myself...

1. 
   nikkiwood | May 14, 2005 05:27pm | #4

   If your only issue here is the durability of a sprayed finish, I wouldn't worry. If your friend can spray regular lacquer (nitrocellulose), he can also spray either precatylized lac (one part) or the stuff that is fully catylized (2 parts, which you mix before spraying). I think it is fair to say that either of the latter are as durable as a brushed on poly. Your info about staining confuses me, however. If you're talking about masking off inlays, and staining the rest of the piece, I think you will be disappointed. If you are inlaying, you had best think about either clear coating, maybe with a little toner, as your friend suggests.I would also like to say that getting a very good brushed on finish with poly is not rocket science. Starting a new thread here will generate all the info you need -- something like "Tips on brushing a finish." Do a search too; there is a weatlth of info in the Knots archives."I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong."
   -- Bertrand Russell