White paint on cabinets, bookcases, and trim

[UncleJoe]

I am building out a mudroom for the wife. Lots of cabinets and shelves. She wants it to have the white painted finish and I want to use this project as a good test for building high quality cabinets. I have been researching how professionals get that perfect white finish. I have a sprayer and I am pretty good with it. Now I am fine tuning and trying to perfect everything. I have read not to use a latex finish on shelves as it never really dries completely and thus books and stuff will stick to it.

My question is what is the best type of paint and sequence to use. So far I have done cabinets with a Zinsser primer and a Lowes high quality paint with decent results. I want to set up the game a bit.

I read where one finish carpenter's pro painter used SW Pro Classic with a lacquer top coat and the photos of the finish looked fabulous. I was not sure of exactly what he meant by lacquer top coat. This was on the JLC forum which is for pros and they ask amateurs like me not to post questions so I honored that request and did not ask.

I always prep the cabinets real well and have no issues with that and I have had good results with the zinsser primer. Now I want to find the best solution for the final coats. I can spray or use foam rollers or brush.

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts and experience. I figure I am not the only one who could use this information

 

[duburban]

Ive used a water based poly or acrylic clear over latex in the past. They work great but takes some learning to clear over the paint as the feed back is different. I would like to ttry the whey by product poly also. It's water based and very hard.

Play with these and stay away from lacquers unless your really into that poison.

 

[UncleJoe]

Thanks, any brand preference on that?

 

[wubears71]

Here is what I recently did with built-ins for my son's school:

• Constructed of 3/4" Birch Ply (stuff from the local hardwoods store - not HD or Lowes) and framed out with Poplar.
• Everything was pre-finished in my shop before assembly.
• Sanded the Ply and Poplar to 180 grit using the ETS150-3 and Rubin Paper.
• 2 coats of Target Coatings EM6500 Sprayed using my Fuji HVLP.
• Imperfections sanded using the ETS150-3 and 400 Grit Brilliant Paper.
• Single coat of Target Coatings SuperClear 9000 Polyurethane.  This really gives that glass smooth top finish.  When spraying it, keep the gun moving as it runs pretty easily and doesn't take much to achieve an incredible finish.  For perspective, I used 3 gallons on EM6500 on the project and only 2/3 of a gallon of 9000.

The combination above is by far the nicest finish I've ever achieved on anything "painted."  Furthermore, it's durable and extremely easy to wipe down and clean once everything cures.  These built-ins are primarily used as a storage place for infant carriers so they see lots of abuse on the shelves.

I use to use SW Pro Classic but don't now that I found the EM6500.  It primes and paints in one.

 

[wubears71]

I forgot links.

Here is a link to the Paint/Primer/Base Coat I use - http://www.targetcoatings.com/products/sealers-primers-a-grain-fillers/em6500-white-base-coat.html

Here is a link to the Top Coat I use -  http://www.targetcoatings.com/products/coatings/em9000-super-clear-interior-polyurethane.html

 

[mlfaber]

I forgot links.

Here is a link to the Paint/Primer/Base Coat I use - http://www.targetcoatings.com/products/sealers-primers-a-grain-fillers/em6500-white-base-coat.html

Here is a link to the Top Coat I use -  http://www.targetcoatings.com/products/coatings/em9000-super-clear-interior-polyurethane.html

Nice work!

 

[duburban]

Here is what I recently did with built-ins for my son's school:

• Constructed of 3/4" Birch Ply (stuff from the local hardwoods store - not HD or Lowes) and framed out with Poplar.
• Everything was pre-finished in my shop before assembly.
• Sanded the Ply and Poplar to 180 grit using the ETS150-3 and Rubin Paper.
• 2 coats of Target Coatings EM6500 Sprayed using my Fuji HVLP.
• Imperfections sanded using the ETS150-3 and 400 Grit Brilliant Paper.
• Single coat of Target Coatings SuperClear 9000 Polyurethane.  This really gives that glass smooth top finish.  When spraying it, keep the gun moving as it runs pretty easily and doesn't take much to achieve an incredible finish.  For perspective, I used 3 gallons on EM6500 on the project and only 2/3 of a gallon of 9000.

The combination above is by far the nicest finish I've ever achieved on anything "painted."  Furthermore, it's durable and extremely easy to wipe down and clean once everything cures.  These built-ins are primarily used as a storage place for infant carriers so they see lots of abuse on the shelves.

I use to use SW Pro Classic but don't now that I found the EM6500.  It primes and paints in one.

I'd like to start using these coatings. How easy is it to get this stuff in the winter? Overnight shipping? What about color matching, do they tint to a BM color chart?

 

[sheeschen]

Nice job, Tim!

Count me as another vote for Target's 6500.  I'm using it on some bathroom doors and cabinets.  Don't make my mistake of topcoating with EM6000 lacquer - it yellows it a little bit.  I've used their EM8000cv conversion varnish as a topcoat, too, but might start trying the 9000 polyurethane for some extra protection on a countertop.  Good to know one coat of the 9000 works well.

I sprayed the 6500 with a little water added to thin it and used a larger needle than standard on my Fuji.  I spray it a little thicker than with the clear coats, and like Tim, do two coats then top coat it.  The literature for the 6500 says it can also work as a topcoat itself, but it doesn't look quite right that way to me.

    Scott

 

[sheeschen]

I forgot to mention, Target is (or recently was) running a special with free UPS shipping.  Even if that's no longer valid, you can use their code SPX12 for an additional 20% during September (there'll be another code for October, etc.).

No idea about shipping in the cold weather.  As for tinting, I've not tried it, but from their website:

"As a Universal White Pastel Base EM6500 can be tinted to match a wide array of popular Off-White and Pastel paint colors. Tint with MIXOL, ColorTone, ViviTone or other water-based UTC colorants for in-shop tinting.  Or, bring to your local professional paint retailer and ask to have them tint the EM6500 White Pastel Base with Evonik/Colortrends 896, 888 or 802 tinting colorants. "

They've got different tones of white for deeper colors than pastels.  They've also got EM6600, which is black.  Haven't tried that.

 

[UncleJoe]

Thanks Tim,
The details you gave are very helpful. Thanks for sharing.

Joe

 

[mastercabman]

Play with these and stay away from lacquers unless your really into that poison.

Hey now,there's nothing wrong with lacquers! [laughing]
Well maybe if you wear a mask.

But i do like the Hi-Build pre-cat laquers

 

[Kodi Crescent]

Here is what I recently did with built-ins for my son's school:

• Constructed of 3/4" Birch Ply (stuff from the local hardwoods store - not HD or Lowes) and framed out with Poplar.
• Everything was pre-finished in my shop before assembly.
• Sanded the Ply and Poplar to 180 grit using the ETS150-3 and Rubin Paper.
• 2 coats of Target Coatings EM6500 Sprayed using my Fuji HVLP.
• Imperfections sanded using the ETS150-3 and 400 Grit Brilliant Paper.
• Single coat of Target Coatings SuperClear 9000 Polyurethane.  This really gives that glass smooth top finish.  When spraying it, keep the gun moving as it runs pretty easily and doesn't take much to achieve an incredible finish.  For perspective, I used 3 gallons on EM6500 on the project and only 2/3 of a gallon of 9000.

The combination above is by far the nicest finish I've ever achieved on anything "painted."  Furthermore, it's durable and extremely easy to wipe down and clean once everything cures.  These built-ins are primarily used as a storage place for infant carriers so they see lots of abuse on the shelves.

I use to use SW Pro Classic but don't now that I found the EM6500.  It primes and paints in one.

Awesome, Tim!  This is just the stuff I need for my project.  Which Fuji are you using?  I'm considering the Mini-Mite 4.

 

[UncleJoe]

Tim, I was just re-reading this thread as I am in the middle of painting and needed to check some things. Did you prime those cabinets or does this paint work without a primer?

 

[Brice Burrell]

Tim, I was just re-reading this thread as I am in the middle of painting and needed to check some things. Did you prime those cabinets or does this paint work without a primer?

I'm not Tim but I might be able to answer your question.  If you talking about using Target Coatings EM6500 it is a lacquer so you don't use a primer.