Replies

1. 
   wedgehead | Jan 12, 2001 04:40pm | #1

   *
   Don't know how "fine" of a finish you want, but I did my laundry room cabinets with plain old semi gloss latex, shot with a borrowed hvlp. I don't think latex and hvlp is a good mix, but these tuned out very nice in spite of it. I shot 2 caots of water base sealer, sanded w/ 120 and shot 2 coats of paint, thinned about 75%. Let it dry, 2 more coats. done. I think latex works out good because it shrinks so much as it dries. Mine looked like crap when wet, but turn your back for an hour and they're smooth.
   If you wnated more shine you could always go to a glossier paint. I used this cause it matched my trim.

1. 
   Mike_Maines | Jan 13, 2001 08:48am | #2

   *Thanks wedgehead, I've heard latex doesn't spray well, but if you've had good experiences maybe I'll give it a try. When you say "thinned 75%" do you mean you cut it with 25% water by volume? I'm fairly new here so I appreciate any advice...Mike

1. 
   wedgehead | Jan 14, 2001 12:49am | #3

   *Thinned 100% would be 1:1 water to paint. I would start out about 2 parts paint to one part water and try it. You may have better luck with the fuji gun than I had with my buddies binks. I know that you can get a bigger tip for latex. I thought I had ruined these cabinets when I first shot them, but when they dried they looked fine. Not hand-rubbed laquer quality, but perfectly acceptable.

1. 
   Marc_Stowe | Jan 21, 2001 05:50pm | #4

   *You will have much better luck spraying an oil based alklyd finish like enamel. Unfortunantly oil based finishes will yellow over time and its slow drying which leaves a long window for dust to settle in. A precatalysed pigmented lacquer will afford you the best results. It is expensive and ease of application (as well as proper curing) depends greatly on the ambient air temperature. M.L. Campbell produces a very nice product as well as Sherwin Williams.

1. 
   Ron_Teti | Jan 25, 2001 01:19am | #5

   *ennduro makes a good waterbase laquer. never heard anything bad about it. havent used it myself though

2. 
   Craig_Mascolo | Jan 28, 2001 10:56pm | #6

   *This is not directed at anyone at all, so please don't take it personal. I think they should take all the latex paint in the world, mix it all together and make one big rubber tarp out of it. Then it should be used to line the bottom of a missile silo where hazardous waste is disposed. Afer that, latex should vanish from the universal vocabulary of paint finishes.Absolutely horrendous stuff that makes me itch, twitch and nauseous when I get within 10 feet of an unopened can.This extremely opnionated comment could be the result of using it on many occasions thoughout my life here in the Arizona desert.My mother taught me not to hate, but I have been excused in the case of latex paint!Sorry guys, I couldn't resist :>)

3. 
   wedgehead | Feb 05, 2001 05:10pm | #7

   *I tend to agree with you in theory, but in the real world of producing acceptable (not excellent) results with a good lifespan, latex paints are adequate for the job. You have to admit, that with all the new b.s. that the government keeps throwing at us, latex paints keep getting better, while oil based paints keep getting worse. And they are all harder to get a truly good finish with.

4. 
   Mike_Maines | Feb 11, 2001 09:39pm | #8

   *Thanks for all the advice. I still haven't decided what to do. Pigmented lacquer sounds like the best quality finish, but can it be painted over in the future if the clients decide to change the room color? They mentioned this as a slight possibility...

5. 
   Gretchen_ | Feb 12, 2001 03:55am | #9

   *Yes, it can be painted over. Primers work wonders. Shellac if nothing else.