How To Prep cabinets for painting

While the cabinet doors were still up, I washed them with some soap and water. The next day I used TSP on them. After I removed the doors  I took them outside to sand them so that they would “take” paint better. Those of you who have been around for awhile know that after I sand something, the first thing I do to remove the dust is to blow it off with my leaf blower. I then use a damp cloth to remove the rest of the dust. (I don’t own a tack cloth).

In order to prep cabinets for painting, I had filled one hole on each of the cabinet doors so that I can replace the handles with knobs. Because the hole goes all the way through I put a piece of painter’s tape on the back to keep the wood filler from oozing out. After the wood filler dried up, I sanded it smooth.

I taped the back of all the drawers . . .

. . . and doors.

I painted a coat once a day letting each coat dry 24 hours before applying the next coat. I painted two coats of primer.

I then prepared to start with my Dutch Boy Refresh Semi-Gloss in Sweetened White. I had already used this paint on the tongue and groove wall and the window. I was really pleased with how well it covered and I was anxious to try it in my sprayer. It was a little thick  so I diluted it in the sprayer.

Isn’t this a sight? Put a hat on me and I look like I belong to the Red Hat Society! Safety first! There was no way I was going in that paint booth without a respirator. You can’t see my feet, but I actually wore a pair of socks. I didn’t want to chance ruining a pair of tennis shoes, I didn’t mind throwing away a pair of socks.

I had so many doors and drawer fronts that I had to do them in two batches. As soon as I got the first batch done, I would carefully carry them out of the paint booth and let them dry, while quickly putting in the next set. I worked quickly so the paint wouldn’t set up in the paint sprayer.

I lined all the doors up on a huge ladder to dry.

This system worked pretty well for me.

After I finished with the second set, I put them all back in the paint booth to cure overnight.

The next day I would sand them with an “in between coat” sanding sponge and wipe them off to prepare them for their next coat.

I am really pleased with how well the Dutch Boy Refresh paint covered.

Aren’t they pretty? I put the first coat of primer on 11 days ago. The doors and drawer fronts have been shifted around a few times due to the fact that it was supposed to rain and this carport leaks. On the couple occasions that it was supposed to rain I transferred them ALL to my carport, and then back to the paint booth. They currently are still all laid out in the paint booth while I work on the cabinet facings and sides.

All in all I did 2 coats of primer and 4 thin coats of Dutch Boy Refresh Semi-gloss.

Meanwhile in the house, I have applied two coats of primer on the facings and sides, allowing each coat to dry for 24 hours. I am following all rules for this project. I don’t usually follow rules while painting. I do not want these cabinets to chip. I am very anxious to start painting with the Dutch Boy Refresh Paint. The oil based primer is SO smelly. It will be great to paint with a low odor No VOC paint!

A word about the sprayer and compressor:

You may remember I was very fortunate to win a $100.00 gift card from Purdy “Save the Walls”.

Did the compressor keep up with the sprayer? NO. Do I wish I had a larger compressor? YES! However the budget didn’t allow for a larger compressor. In the end it worked out, but it just took longer than anticipated. It’s a good thing I CAN be patient when I need to.

EDITED TO ADD:  I now have a new sprayer that I LOVE, you can read about it in my post Kitchen Cabinets Updated With Paint and Trim.

No paint sprayer, NO problem, check out this easy redo, painting cabinets black.  🙂

gail

You can check out the kitchen before pictures in my post Kitchen Makeover Pt 1

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