Replies

1. 
   bwpsg42 | Aug 16, 2006 03:24am | #1

   I'm really interested in hearing some answers to this question. I just finished a full kitchen of birch cabinets with maple face frames, drawer fronts and doors. The customer wanted them painted white and I had never done any painted projects. I used Fuhr 380 white tinted satin waterbase over a couple of coats of shellac seal coat. I had a bit of trouple at first although I think it was because of the heat and humidity down here. In the end, they came out very nice and the customer was very happy. It was a lot more work than I bargained for though.

2. 
   peter28 | Aug 21, 2006 03:51am | #2

   Jay,

   Don't apologize for a low tech question. It's a smart way to start.

   My favorite primer when I'm painting is called Aqualock. It's made by Insul-X coatings. A good paint shop will have it or can order it for you. It's fast drying and quite hard. Follow the directions and you'll have a good base to paint.

   For paint I like using Benjamin Moore. It is of good quality and give you a nicely finished surface.

   After you prime, sand the surface with 220 sandpaper. Clean and vacuum all the dust off and you are ready to paint. Make no mistake though, this is a lot of work but well worth the effort in the end.

   When painting, plan your work. Have the doors laid out(if possible). Do the panels first, the rails second and the stiles last.

   A good four inch roller is indispensable in this type of work. You can cover quite a bit of ground quickly once you get comfortable. Also a good nylon brush for feathering out your paint.

   I always put at least two coats of paint for a good look and durability. Some people also will use a water based urethane over this as a final coat. The theory is to give it a harder coating. I don't do this because it is far easier to touch up the paint surface if required in the future.

   You'll find it taking more time than you initially planned. Plan on it!

   Good luck.

   Peter Gedrys