How-to DIY a good cabinet finish?

9 years ago

We are planning on ordering cabinets from Barker, (also happy to hear any feedback about them!). Initially we planned on having the cabinets finished by Barker, we want them to be painted the Pure White that they offer and have even used that as the trim color in other areas of our home anticipating that as our cabinet color.

However! We purchased a very inexpensive paint sprayer (I think this one: Critter Spray Products 22032 118SG Siphon Gun ) over the summer and have loved it to refinish a few smaller projects. I am not at all interested in hand painting anything, and I don't think the spray gun we have is appropriate, but we do have a 240 volt/130 psi air compressor.

So! My question is, how do contractors site finish cabinets? I have seen pictures of cabinets being sprayed installed. Would we have access to the correct paint sprayer/paint to get a good finish? Has anyone watched this process through their contractor or done it themselves?

Would it be worth the cost savings? The finishing cost from Barker is a couple of thousand, approx. 40% of the total cabinetry cost. We are pretty comfortable putting in labor as long as we can get a good end product with our skills.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

rmtdoug
9 years ago
I'm not a finisher by any stretch of the imagination, but I know it's really hard to get a factory-like finish at home and definitely not with a Critter. I don't even know what kind of paint you would use. Probably a lacquer.

I would assume most onsite jobs would be done with HVLP sprayers and you need a lot of air to run one of those if you hook one up to a compressor.

I would read up more on this if I were you.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
9 years ago
Wood finishing is a trade unto itself.

Those guys note the weather on their ride to work to know how to mix finishes when they get there. You won't find that on a YouTube video.
Related Professionals
Fox Lake Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Henderson Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Pike Creek Valley Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Plymouth Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Bensenville Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · 93927 Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Kuna Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Los Alamitos Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Overland Park Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Tulsa Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Phillipsburg Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Plymouth Cabinets & Cabinetry · Red Bank Cabinets & Cabinetry · Edwards Tile and Stone Contractors · Shady Hills Design-Build Firms
cookncarpenter
9 years ago
I'm a GC (semi retired) and 99% of all our cabinetry is built by local custom shops, and installed unfinished. I have a couple painters that do fantastic finishing, both stain and paint, and I have watched the process, and It does not look like fun! These guys have over 30 years experience each, and use professional (expensive) equipment, and finishes. It's all about prep... filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, priming, sanding, priming, sanding and finally finishing. The spraying environment needs to be absolutely dust free! Too much moisture (humidity) in the air can ruin the final finish, and need to strip and start over, I've seen it happen in our coastal sometimes foggy area.
This is not to say you can't do it yourself, or scare you out of it, just be well prepared ;)
chitown_mary
9 years ago
We are probably going with Barker as well. I gave serious thought to painting them ourselves, but I agree with a lot of the folks here that a factory finish is difficult to replicate at home ...even if you have an extremely meticulous hubby, as I do. You might consider having them paint the doors & drawer fronts, (since that is what everyone sees and touches the most) and painting the rest yourself.
User
9 years ago
The way to get a good DIY finish is to fail enough times in practising and learn how NOT to do it. HVLP and a catalyzed varnish are not forgiving of inexperience. If you'll only have the one time job, you'll never have enough work to get a feel for it until after you've screwed up those cabinets.

Get them professionally done.