Best finishes (paint) for built-ins and walls

[VictorL]

Hello,

I'm going to build 12' long built-in and make a couple of built-in wardrobes. Design dictates to use color paint, and my knowledge is 5-10 years old. Consumer Reports announces paint winner every year, but their methodology and weight coefficients sometimes are questionable.  I do have a several questions:
Which paint manufacturer and specific is best  for painting built-ins (shelves, doors)?
Which latex paint works well with HVLP sprayers?
Which paint is best for covering surrounding Sheetrock pre-painted walls?

Thank you,
VictorL

 

[Scott B.]

Hi Victor

I am finishing a very trim heavy new home right now, complete with tons of built in cabinetry, panel details and beadboard.

Here are a couple of articles that I have written that will help you on the waterborne learning curve:

http://topcoatreview.com/2011/12/waterborne-trim-paints-and-one-trick-ponies/

http://topcoatreview.com/2011/01/waterborne-trim-paints-the-future-is-certain/

I am currently using Benjamin Moore products on my project. Primer 046 and waterborne satin impervo #314. I have also had good results with Sherwin Williams waterbornes. Their Wall and Wood primer and Cashmere medium lustre are an equivalent system. All of the above work well through hvlp and by brush.

Wall paints, Benjamin Moore Natura and Aura are both excellent.

 

[Chris Hughes]

I do not like latex in hvlp guns.  In the end the result seems to be ok but while shooting it is hard to get a decent feedback because of the way latex flows out of the tip.  Latex does not particulate very small and in my experience results in larger globs.  With better paints those globs will lay down fine.

I am inclined to skip all of that.  I prefer, when shooting paint, to use Sherwin Williams Pro Classic oil based.  The product thins easily with paint thinner. 

 

[Scott B.]

Chris

No doubt, oil is dreamy in hvlp.

With waterborne, it totally depends on the product, machine, settings, reduction strategy and operator. 5 stage is required and there is alot of variation from one to another. A couple of the hvlp mfr's have dialed their rigs nicely to reflect the current generation of paint technologies. But then, I know cabinet shop guys with 15 year old 9100's who can move effortlessly from oil impervo to aura with dynamite results. Keeps things interesting.

 

[ericbuggeln]

BM Waterborne Satin Impervo for built ins and trim and BM Regal Eggshell finish on walls. Im too old school for Aura, just yet. If you don't spray cut a section in with a brush then roll with a four inch skinny roller, don't use foam ones. I use Zinsser Bullseye 123 for priming, then light sanding with ETS 125, Eric

 

[fatroman]

Anyone here using Cabinet Coat (brush/roll)?

Heard some good things about it, that it flows to a nicely even and hard finish, and thinking of trying it on the next set of built-ins.

I've used Aura and like it.

 

[VictorL]

Thanks for your replies.  I'll try to use Benjamine Moor new paints. Do you have any recommendations for HVLP thinnig?

 

[tiralie]

Thanks for your replies.  I'll try to use Benjamine Moor new paints. Do you have any recommendations for HVLP thinnig?

Distilled water up to 10-15% for latex paint. BM also make an extender K518 which helps keep latex wet longer if it's drying too fast. You could also use Floetrol available at most Sherwin Williams. Turbine based HVLP systems generate warm to hot air particularly if you are spraying a long time. Latex based coatings are formulated to dry quickly and the hot air tends to accelerate the drying time creating dry spray over spray and a rough finish.
Tim

 

[durango]

I'm one of those guys that sprays with the "15 year old" 9100.  Coupled with an Accuspray gun, a variety of needle, nozzles, and aircaps it works just fine.  Most often I use their gravity feed pressure cup, but I don't know if it is still available.  I use the turbine for on site work where a suitable size compressor isn't feasible.  It's a little slower than a compressor driven setup but works great. 

I love Ben Moore waterborne Impervo.  It's the closest to non- blocking that I've ever used in a waterborne product and is readily available to the average Joe.  Distilled water works great for reducing and sometimes a little Floetrol is helpful. 

Take a few moments to look over the Homestead Finishing Products forum.  Finishing can become a "voodoo" art,  be prepared to practice and experiment some. 

 

[Scott B.]

I'm one of those guys that sprays with the "15 year old" 9100.  Coupled with an Accuspray gun, a variety of needle, nozzles, and aircaps it works just fine.  Most often I use their gravity feed pressure cup, but I don't know if it is still available.  I use the turbine for on site work where a suitable size compressor isn't feasible.  It's a little slower than a compressor driven setup but works great. 

I love Ben Moore waterborne Impervo.  It's the closest to non- blocking that I've ever used in a waterborne product and is readily available to the average Joe.  Distilled water works great for reducing and sometimes a little Floetrol is helpful. 

Take a few moments to look over the Homestead Finishing Products forum.  Finishing can become a "voodoo" art,  be prepared to practice and experiment some. 

I meant that comment in a respectful way and with a sense of wonder.  [big grin] Kinda blows me away what some finishers can do with a MacGyver approach.

Yes, a shot of fluotrol slicks it up a bit for the sprayer. Too much and it can mess with the sheen though.

 

[tiralie]

  Finishing can become a "voodoo" art,  be prepared to practice and experiment some. 

The chicken ran off with my Voodoo apprenticeship papers. [wink]

 

[durango]

"I meant that comment in a respectful way and with a sense of wonder.  Kinda blows me away what some finishers can do with a MacGyver approach. "

No offense taken,  those of us who do this for fun, not profit,  gotta find a way to get by.  Kremlin AAA ain't in this country boys budget... 
One of the nicest Awlgrip jobs I ever saw was a "roll and tip".  I wouldn't have dreamed of labeling it "MacGyver",  it was sweeeeeeeeet.   

"The chicken ran off with my Voodoo apprenticeship papers".

Bet you weren't wearing your grigris when that chicken stole those papers, lol

 

[Scott B.]

You would be surprised how often guys who don't do it for a living do it way better than guys who do. For a host of reasons.

Some of my favorite concoctions over the years, in product and process, have been the most Frankenstein things you ever saw. Sometimes that is what works best, especially when I was working solo. With a crew, things need to be predictable, consistent, duplicatable, so standardization becomes key.