Preparing Cabinets For Paint

A picture is worth a thousand words.    In the last post  we outlined a procedure to get your cabinets ready to paint.   Here are a few pictures showing how spot putty is used to correct the damaged area of the cabinets.   Remember:

• Mask and over the counter top and areas that need to be protected. Typically, this is a brown masking paper or clear plastic sheeting.  These supplies can be purchased at a quality paint store.
• Sand the cabinets lightly to remove the dirt and grim that has collected.  Or the cabinets surface  can be washed to remove the dirt.  If you sand, be sure to use a tack cloth to wipe up the dust.  A tack cloth is a cheese cloth with a tacky surface that dust will stick to leaving the surface clean. The putty and primer will adhere better  to the surface that is clean.
• Spot putty the damaged areas and allow to dry.   Apply thin skim coats each time.  And all them to dry thoroughly.  Drying only takes about 15 to 20 minutes.  Then lightly sand it is  until smooth.   Apply another skim coat, allow to dry, then sand.   Follow the same procedure until the damaged area is smooth.    This is usually three coats, but may be more depending on the damaged areas you need to fill. 
• If you apply a heavy coat of spot putty, it will crack as it dries.   You will end up sanding off the cracked portion.  
• Apply the primer and allow it to dry thoroughly.  
• Sand it lightly and remove the sanding dust with a tack rag or brush it away with a duster brush.  If the sanding dust is not removed, the final paint coat will be gritty and it will be necessary to sand it and apply another final coat  over a smooth surface.

 Here are a few pictures showing what the process looks like.   This owner wanted dark cabinets painted.   A similar preparation process  would be used  for woodgraining.

Spot putty has been applied in to damaged areas of cabinet in preparation

of priming and applying a   final coat of paint.

 A paint sprayer was used to apply  the primer to these cabinets

because of the extensiveness of the project.-----And a professional
painter was  doing the work.

We suggest you brush the primer and final coat by hand.  Unless you are familiar with using a  paint sprayer your project can be frustrating learning to use and control the sprayer.

A paint sprayer --painting gun--is not a toy.  Always point the gun towards the ground away from any individual or body part.  If paint is injected into the body serious physical harm
and possible death can occur. 
 

These  primed cabinet are ready for the final coat.

Be sure to use quality products and ask the paint store or qualified painter for more detailed instructions .

Seely Painting, Inc.