cabinet painting strategy

[Packard]

I was originally planning on re-facing my cabinets, but the boxes are low-quality builder grade and I think they should be replaced too.

I will be building 32mm euro-style (no face frame) cabinets. 

Except for the end cabinets, only the narrow veneer on the boxes' edges require a finish that matches the doors.  All the cabinet doors will be shaker style painted.

I will be using Blum full overlay hinges.  So only a narrow sliver of the boxes will show (and the exposed end panels).

Options:

1.  Buy 3/4" ply unfinished.  Paint the box interior, exterior, and edge veneer.

2.  Buy 3/4" ply, interior finished clear.  Paint the exterior and edge veneer.

3.  Buy 3/4" ply, finished both sides.  Paint the edge veneer and any exposed side panels.

The third option appeals to me.  It reduces the amount of work and shortens my build time.

Questions:

1.  How to paint the edge veneer.  I have a 4-stage HVLP sprayer.  But masking everything to spray the veneer seems like a chore.  Do I just pick up a brush and paint the edge veneer?

2.  How to paint the exposed side panels.  Will I have adhesion issues with the paint over the factory clear finish?  Do I scuff the factory finish and apply a primer?  I usually use 1-2-3, would that work on the factory finish?

Thanks for your input.

Packard

 

[cpw]

You can get prefinished plywood that is only finished on one side, use the prefinished side on the interior and then you can paint the unfinished side without any worries about adhesion.

 

[Bugsysiegals]

I'm not sure I see a difference between options 2 and 3 with regards to what you have to paint other than you're paying for a clear coat which you're going to scuff and paint over.  It seems more work to scuff and a waste of money to pay for a clear coat you're going to paint over.

My shop cabinets I'm building are 3/4" 1 side pre-finished which I've placed to the inside.  The outside is being shellac but could be finished with anything.

 

[Ocfishingguy]

Agree with cpw said. Plus, single sided prefin is cheaper. Save the double prefin for the shelves. You can get prefin edge banding for the shelves. Also, if your doing shaker style doors/drawers, you would want matching shaker end panels on your uppers and lowers.

As far as frameless edge banding, i order all my frameless banding from ESI. They have polymer, pvc, & wood edge banding up to 4 mil thick in thousand of colors.  They color match whatever the kitchen will be.

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[Packard]

Only 3 upper and one lower cabinet sides are exposed. 

My thinking was, all the unfinished sides have to have paint or poly coating.  That is going to be a lot of painting.  Whereas I would only have to paint one side of three uppers and one side of one lower.

That is why I was asking about painting over the pre-finished plywood.