Asian Fever

Question about painting my cabinets...

alyb

New member
Apr 9, 2007
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Ok, so I rent, and I have these old ugly cheap wood cabinets in my kitchen, probably installed in the 80's...mind you.

They were driving me nuts so I finally asked if I could paint a nice solid, intelligent, not too flashy color that would do the room some justice. I got the approval, and decided to go to Canadian Tire to talk to the "paint experts" to see what I would need to get the job done as I have no problem being a DIY enthusiast.

Well, my "paint experts" consisted of a ditsy girl no older than 20, playing with her hair asking her co-worker, another kid in his 20's (who looked half-baked) when she could go on her lunch break. I've NEVER had a good Canadian Tire experience and something was telling me this wasn't about to change... but I stuck with it and hoped it wouldn't be so bad.

I clearly explained the type of surface I was painting. Low and behold, I get the perfect color, a nice, warm, rich, intelligent "deep cocoa espresso-like brown". Its very complimentary to the mood I like. When I'm in the kitchen, I love dark rich colors highlighted with simple peices of pottery, for example, in reds, oranges, and earthy greens. Moving on...so I have the brushes, the roller, the container, paint...I'm feelin good to go...

Get home, unhinge all of the doors, tape up the areas close to the walls, etc... and I start to go at it. Well, the paint looks beautiful, but I notice one little problem. It was latex based, and seemed to have this "peely" effect to it even when it was dry, any time it would touched... just not "securely on there" if you know what I mean. Then I start thinking to myself, "Ok this does NOT seem like the right paint..." I don't know if they should've suggested a primer, or just some other type of paint all together, but hey, I wasn't the expert, I was just the customer asking them to provide me with what I would need....

I never wanted a glossy look, as the matte look was really what I was going after. Anyway... I hear that there is a very matte type of polyurethane out there that isn't too glossy. I bought a can today, put on a thin layer...but what the heck, it seems like its not having that nice "smoothe, even" type of finish that I was hoping for. I can see some "lines" and where the roller went over to smoothe out the "lines" i can almost see little dots of no coverage....

GRRR! LOL. Now, here's what I'm thinking....

Being that it was a very small, thin coat, would it be wise to go over it again a little thicker, then maybe get a super fine type of sandpaper to smoothe out any imperfections? I understand that polyurethane doesn't have the same "even coverage" because of its consistancy compared to paint. I would obviously have to make sure the polyurethane is on thick enough though or I'd be sanding off the paint itself if I use any sandpaper after.....

Does anyone have any tips for the point I'm at right now? I really dont want to screw this project up! What should I expect, etc.... HELP!

Aly
 

wpgguy

Banned
May 13, 2005
675
3
0
Bad news

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I think you need to start over. If the cabinets are made of the material I think they are, particle board with a fake wood grain veneer? Kind of smooth and shiny like the finish on cheap furniture?

They should be sanded and primed before you put on the first coat of paint. Anything you do now won't help, it will just peel in a matter of days or weeks. I'm not sure if acrylic paint or polyurethane would be any better with out doing the proper prep.

It would be worth the effort to go to a real paint store and get their advise. The paint might be $5.00 or $10.00 a gallon more but it beats having to do it twice.

I'll be the first to admit I'm not an expert, best to get expert advise and Canadian Tire is not the place to start. Best if you could bring one of the doors right to the paint store to show them exactly what you want to paint.

Hope that helps, if you kitchen turns out well you could come and paint mine as well:p
 

alyb

New member
Apr 9, 2007
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Damn it!

Lol, this is why I never should've had an A+ in woodshop.

My teacher was an old perv who gave all of the cute girls good grades..

Thanks Wpgguy, now I feel silly. ;)

(But hey at least I try!)
 

wpgguy

Banned
May 13, 2005
675
3
0
Don't feel bad, If I had all the cash that I wasted by screwing up my own little projects I could take you some place warm for a month this winter. :p

Oh S*** now I'm really depressed. :( ;) Time for a BIG glass of wine.:p
 

athaire

Inactive Pooner
Aug 18, 2006
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Land of the living skies
Hon.....I am a painter and I will tell you that the coat of paint you just put on will have to be sanded off as all new coats will just peel off because the original "base" coat wasn't prepped properly.
Ensure you completely sand the cupboards and also consider washing with solvent to get any grease etc. off.
If you go with a acrylic material that will be fine but after you sand the failing coating off you will have to go with either an alkyd primer or an acrylic primer. Zinsser makes good bond coat primers that will probably work and are water or thinner clean up. But you can check with any paint store for an equivalent.
After the primer is cured you should be good to go with the Canadian Tire paint for the finish.......

Good luck, to bad you can't wait till Aug.......lol......
 

alyb

New member
Apr 9, 2007
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Note to self...

Ask on perb BEFORE i start something...

well, there went my may long weekend lol.
 

wpgguy

Banned
May 13, 2005
675
3
0
Lol, this is why I never should've had an A+ in woodshop.

My teacher was an old perv who gave all of the cute girls good grades..
HHMMMMM all the BOYS got A's when I was in school, I guess now I know why it was call WOODshop:eek:
 

TTTWISTER

New member
Jul 28, 2006
168
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Chicago
Hon.....I am a painter and I will tell you that the coat of paint you just put on will have to be sanded off as all new coats will just peel off because the original "base" coat wasn't prepped properly.
Ensure you completely sand the cupboards and also consider washing with solvent to get any grease etc. off.
If you go with a acrylic material that will be fine but after you sand the failing coating off you will have to go with either an alkyd primer or an acrylic primer. Zinsser makes good bond coat primers that will probably work and are water or thinner clean up. But you can check with any paint store for an equivalent.
After the primer is cured you should be good to go with the Canadian Tire paint for the finish.......

Good luck, to bad you can't wait till Aug.......lol......


If you can get acess to compressor and gun you will get a much nicer finish by spraying them rather than brushing. Put the roller away. Good luck.
You can also rent airless sprayers at most paint stores. Well at least here you can.
 
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