Why won't my cabinet paint dry?

14 years ago

I have purchased 3 different quarts of Ace cabinet paint, tinted 3 different colors of very dark brown.

I have painted 3 different sample boards. The first two were painted over 2 weeks ago. Two coats, waited a day in between.

The second board was painted a week ago, has 2 costs, waited 2 days in between.

The sample board wood is a thin real oak veneer. sanded first, as it was stained, did not prime since it was a sample.

They are all still very sticky. So much so that in a few spots paint will come off on your hands. they are so tacky that they are picking up a lot of dust, etc and are really very dull.

Our humidity is borderline low, they were left to dry inside at about 65 degrees

What's going on?

I need to move forward on painting the cabinets.

Any help would be great, thank you!

Featured Answer

Faron79

14 years ago

FINALLY called a resource at ACE-Technical!!!

The news was what I expected...Loooonnngggg cure-time required for full cure-out.
* 1 month+ isn't out of the question she said...
* No known issues with any production batches...
* The MOST common cause, is not what people want to hear...

>>> The coats are probably too thick for a Neutral-base color.
>>> I realized it's frustrating to hear, but it's just the way it goes sometimes. No 2 people will apply the same thickness of paint. What's "too thin" to some, may be a "heavy" coat" to another. It's agonizingly arbitrary, but the paint doesn't care...
* Vertical surfaces will require 3 lighter coats. In neutral bases, even some horizontal pieces will do better with 3 thinner coats.
* Each thinner coat will dry out faster.
* Works the same with spray paints...two thicker coats will take LOTS longer to cure than 3 thinner ones.

Surprisingly, ACE said that a spray furniture-polish will prevent "blocking" of the color(s)! A month needs to pass regardless however...

Priming:
I know the label says no priming needed. Lotsa brands say that though....and it drives me insane!
You CAN tell the difference in gloss developement and film-hardening!! I've tested it myself a few times.

I hope this helps!!

Faron

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Comments (11)

booger3914
14 years ago
I painted my daughter's toy box with the same paint. It takes a long, long time to dry and a few weeks for the smell to subside. Its been 3 weeks and it still has a strong odor. I'm about ready to buy a quart of Muralo Ultra Satin and start over.
raspycat
14 years ago
I had the same problem. Tried the Ace cabinet paint in a dark brown color on a sample door. After a whole month, I could still scratch the paint with my fingernail. It was still that soft and tacky. I gave up and moved on to a different paint. I know people here say it's great, but that long of a cure time was just unworkable for me.
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Faron79
14 years ago
I'll call ACE-Technical Tuesday...

* The dark colors I've brushed-out have been fine, AFTER a couple weeks of curing. I've even done dark (Neutral tint-bases) Browns.
* A heavy load of colorant does slow the cure WAAAAAaaaayy down though. Nature-of-the-beast.
* Priming does help these kind of paints though. I can tell the difference in the gloss development.

Faron
brickhouse
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you! I'd love to hear what ACE says. I was planning to call too, but you probably know all the right questions to ask.

We are painting our kitchen cabs, in place. I can keep do my best to keep everyone away, if they really will dry at some point!

I guess it would help to know what steps would be best to take. How long to wait between each coat, should I sand in between?

I planned to prime with Zinsser 1-2-3, tinted to something, suggestions? I'd sand after priming.

I really need to figure this out and move forward.

Thank you!
brickhouse
Original Author
14 years ago
I guess I should add that if anyone has any other paint suggestions I'd welcome them.

My paint is matched to Pratt & Lambert Obsidian. So cabinet coat is out. We are rural, but I can get to a BM in an hour. We have a SW, a Rodda store, HD, and a local that sells Pratt & Lambert.

Have been considering FPE after reading everything here. Does this cure any faster? I'd have to order it, no dealers close by.
Faron79
14 years ago
Ah FRAK...I forgot to call ACE today....Felgerkarb!!!
(think Old-school Battlestar G. here....;-))
I'll do it Wed.!!

Brick-
I checked the FPE "Specifiers" manual (anyone can request one of these...just call-'em!), and their ECO series paint.

* ECO is best for the "smooth-finish" result.
* Available in Brilliant (Gloss), and Satin.
* There's a REAL RICH looking "Dutch Chocolate", and an "Espresso" color! They also state "...available in White; 7,000 FPE Colors; 3,000 Pantone colors; and unlimited custom-tinted colors."
* They do stress a clean, prepped surface...big shock there!! For optimal smoothness and gloss, they suggest a sanded primer layer using their ECO primer, or, FPE Oil-primer/Undercoat.

>>> Two REAL COOL things about this paint (for a paint-geek like me...):
1) It's a TWO-BASE system. Not the typical 3 or 4 tint-base system in North American paint.
2) The colorants themselves!
* The pigments (and paint resins) are MUCH more finely-ground than normal.
* Instead of real "liquidy" colorants, FPE's are more "paste-like"...VERY concentrated.
* This adds to the incredible depth-of-color, leveling capabilities, durability, and gloss levels achieveable with this stuff.

Soooo...all this means is...you get a fairly fast, smoother, harder-curing film!

Faron

Here is a link that might be useful: FPE's ECO info. page...
booger3914
14 years ago
I guess Ace didn't have an answer......
Faron79
14 years ago
Many apologies...
I was off Thurs., and Friday was our freight day. My partner was sidetracked doing a painting-project half the day for a new Stihl display...

One of those "Chicken with a head cut off days..."

I'll do my best to find out Monday!

Faron
brickhouse
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks Faron. I will call next week if you don't have the chance. Been sidetracked over here with installing the new appliances and recessed lighting shopping.

I really want this cabinet paint to work. Love the 'hybrid' concept, it has all the qualities I am looking for, except that it won't dry!!!

Thanks!
someone2010
14 years ago
I'll tell you as much as I know. 1. You use a base paint to tint to a color. Light base for light colors. Medium base for medium colors and dark base for dark colors. If you use a light or medium base to tint a dark color you will have to use so much tint that the paint will no longer perform.
2. Your problem my also be your board. Try again on a different board. Make sure you follow the instructions on the can.
3. Was the paint made in China? Try another brand.