Struggling with painting kitchen cabinets

snb778888 · Nov 7, 2020

Hello everyone,

I am trying my first attempt at painting kitchen cabinets. After my first door, the paint scratches very easily and I can figure out why.

I started by using a degreaser and scrubbing pad. Then I lightly sanded the surface, then I used S.W. Extreme Bond which seemed to adhere very well. Then I used S.W. Pro Classic Enamel finish for trim and doors which I would assume is fairly durable, its an Acrylic Latex. I waited 4 hrs, sanded, and then applied the second coat. After what is now 36hrs, the paint scratches with the light tough of the back of my fingernail. I lightly slid a key down it, and it made a visible scratch. The texture almost seems rubbery...? My suspicion was I didnt wait long enough in between paint coats, so I tried a 2nd door.

2nd Door: Same process only in between paint coats I will wait 12-16hrs. I applied the 1st coat yesterday. Today I sanded and as you can see, the paint kind of balls up. I don't know if this is because its latex, or if its not completely dry yet, but the paint can says 4hrs to reapply and sand (i waited 12-16hrs).

Any Ideas?? Website won't let me load any pictures

monarchski · Nov 7, 2020

Doesn't look like it's peeling, that looks like marring which is common with acrylic paints especially until after they've fully cured. Read on the can what the re-coat time is in-between coats. Leave it alone for 30 days to fully cure and you should be fine.

snb778888 · Nov 7, 2020

Its been drying for 16hrs. Can says wait 4hrs for recoat..thats why I don't get why this is happening. I sure don't want to spend the time doing the rest until I'm confident the surface is durable...thatd really suck if I need to wait 3pdays to find out before I continue this project

mug · Nov 7, 2020

7 days minimum cure water based primers. 21 to 30 minimum for top coat cure like that was mentioned. These coatings always leave marks with fingernails. Do your homework Hoss. Read those TDS sheets as well.

snb778888 · Nov 7, 2020

What do you mean by "these coatings" always scratch? Door and trim paints are typically pretty durable id think with all the abuse they take.?

monarchski · Nov 7, 2020

ProClassic Acrylic is on the lower spectrum of what most painters will use on cabinets but it WILL harden more the longer it's on there.

snb778888 · Nov 7, 2020

Aaaah crap, ok good to know. Was like $80, figured it had to be quality. What about the Behr Alkyd? Only like $40

cocomonkeynuts · Nov 7, 2020

$80??? Sorry, you got fleeced. The ole SW wham bam thank you ma'am.
BM advance produces a nice hard finish that is resistent to marring.

snb778888 · Nov 7, 2020

That's what I need. I just don't want to wait 2 weeks for this cure to see if it's even what I want to move on with this project

cocomonkeynuts · Nov 7, 2020

Most paints are full cure 2-3 weeks... alkyd paints in particular will continue to harden up over the course of month(s).

Masterwork · Nov 7, 2020

In the future, the recoat and dry times are under "ideal" conditions. A cool, damp room can make it take way longer to dry. I've had jobs where the weather changed and the paint literally ran off doors and walls inside of a building, due to no insulation, etc. It was satisfying to tell the GC "I told you so..." the next day.

snb778888 · Nov 7, 2020

Ok thanks. I grabbed the SW because it was priced with their higher "quality" paints, and being a trim and door paint i figured its built to last and take some abuse...as id hope any trim and door paint would. Is there anything else specific with the BM paint I need to ask for or is it simply BM Advanced?

I painted in my basement ,probably 65 degrees, dry....

jr.sr. painting · Nov 7, 2020

The advance is your best bet in a wb coating. That too will take some time to harden up to not leave fingerprints during reinstallation. Just finishing up a large kitchen remodel and we used advance for the first time and I was very impressed. Def a long recoat time.

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finishesbykevyn · Nov 8, 2020

Need some dry racks dude!

snb778888 · Nov 7, 2020

Looks great. So realistically, if you can put fingerprints on it, do you and most people really wait a week before you install them?

jr.sr. painting · Nov 7, 2020

snb778888 said:
Looks great. So realistically, if you can put fingerprints on it, do you and most people really wait a week before you install them?

We waited 48 hours between coats and 24 hours before installing the doors. I held the doors with a clean rag in both hands and my employee used the impact to screw them in. I even used rags to handle the doors while drilling for all new hardware and new clear bumpers on the inside of the doors. I could def tell it would have left fingerprints every without the rags. IMO the rags were a must for next day installing

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Rbriggs82 · Nov 7, 2020

If you're using SW I'd go with the Emerald Urethane if going the BM route Cabinet Coat is a nice product. Advance is fantastic but the recoat and curing times are a major inconvenience, ure times on darker colors are crazy.

finishesbykevyn · Nov 8, 2020

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Struggling with painting kitchen cabinets

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