FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

Painting metal cabinets

bearmon | Posted in General Discussion on September 13, 2007 02:37am

Have some old metal cabinets in an apartment to paint.  Wondering what prep is required.  Any ideas?

Bear


Edited 9/12/2007 7:37 pm ET by bearmon

Reply
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Replies

  1. rez | Sep 13, 2007 06:51pm | #1

    bump

    at 4 bucks a pill and I didn't last four hours
    I want my money back!

    sobriety is the root cause of dementia.   

    1. User avater
      IMERC | Sep 13, 2007 08:35pm | #2

      any clue to the condition of the cabs???

      what paint is there now...

      are they rusted???Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

      WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

      1. bearmon | Sep 13, 2007 11:44pm | #3

        No rust. Original white finish.  Plan to do bright red with black and white floor tile.

        Wondering if they should be scuffed up at all, or just cleaned well.  Plan to spray them in place.

        Thanks

         Bear

        1. pebble | Sep 14, 2007 12:15am | #5

          I laboriously painted a metal cabinet with a brush. I used a primer first that was a rust inhibitor, from Porter Paints. It was called Glyptex I think. Then it got covered with two coats of Navy to match the wall tile. I sanded too before applying the coats. The brush marks are visible but not in a bad way.If I had the money I think I would go to an autobody shop next time and let them do it.Handyman, painter, wood floor refinisher, property maintenance in Tulsa, OK

        2. User avater
          hammer1 | Sep 14, 2007 12:29am | #6

          I'd call an electrostatic paint company and let them worry about everything.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

        3. User avater
          IMERC | Sep 14, 2007 12:48am | #7

          super clean...

          scuff...

          clean again...

          paint...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

          WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

  2. rez | Sep 13, 2007 11:51pm | #4

    another bump

    at 4 bucks a pill and I didn't last four hours
    I want my money back!

    sobriety is the root cause of dementia.   

  3. alwaysoverbudget | Sep 14, 2007 12:53am | #8

    as a paint and bodyman guy i have painted about 6-7 sets of the youngstown kitchen metal cabinets for people over the years.

    tell me a little about what you have,have they ever been painted before or are they still in the orig. white finish. if they have been painted the labor factor just went way up.

    are these going to be still used in a kitchen where you need a very high quality look  or out in the shop and you just looking to clean them up? what about the inside's,painting them also?

     2 of the sets i did were in very nice house's and they were in excellent shape. one set was painted  back pure white on the doors and what little faceframe there was,was painted black.they then continued that theme with tile and countertops in black and white. it was outstanding. another set went with ford candyapple red from the 70's.they used a lot of chrome to accent the kitchen,including the refrig that was painted red with lots of chrome. this kitchen got the "oh my! comments "when people walked in.it dazzeld you,if you loved red it was awesome,if you liked blue you just shook your head.lol

    let me know and i throw in my 2 bits worth from there. larry

    hand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.

    1. bearmon | Sep 14, 2007 02:06am | #9

      Thought about pulling them and taking them to my auto body guy, but nicely done tile backsplash is over the flanges of the cabs, so not going to pull them.

      This is in an apartment I'm fixing up for my GF and her daughter, and is owned by a good friend.  So we want a pretty good job.  House may be converted to offices in a couple of years, so don't want to go overboard, either.

      Original white paint.  Will take off the handles, of course.  Plan on painting interiors, too.

      Thanks for all thoughts.Bear

      1. User avater
        IMERC | Sep 14, 2007 02:37am | #10

        etching primer was the word I wanded yesterday...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

        WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

      2. alwaysoverbudget | Sep 14, 2007 04:38am | #11

        if they are youngstown the doors will come off easily,if you want to take them to another location and paint them there. something you said concerns me a little with it being a apartment,i will tell you how i would paint them ,but it does create a smell,as most any paint will,so keep that in mind.

        first thing is a good scrubbing with soap and water [i prefer dawn dishwashing soap].find a auto parts store that sells paint supplies.normally the products they sell are not as good a quality as a body supply store,but  your painting cabs ,not a lexus.

        buy a qt or gal of wax and grease remover and 5 or 6 scuff pads,i prefer white pads as they are finer grit than red,but red will work also. wipe the cabs down with the wax remover and immeditly dry them off with a very clean white rag.do this inside and out.

        once thats done scuff all the surfaces with the scuff pads and once again do a repeat of the wax remover wipe down.

        your ready to paint...... now comes the choice of paint,i would prefer lacquer ,but it can be hard to get. sherwin williams stores can get a  lac. called opex L 61 production lac that will do a nice job. other possibilites are a acrilyc urethane that the place where you got the wax remover at will have,lots and lots of smell with that.always wear a mask with ureathanes,should with lac too but at  least you won't fall over dead from lac.

        i did assume that you were spraying these,is that correct?  if it's something your going to brush s.w also sells a paint for metal that works good and flows out nice but nothing like the spraying.

        you know i should throw this out since you said red, i bought 2 qts red ppg urethane the other day. paint ,thinner run out at almost 400.00 ! you do not need that quality of paint but know that that you could spend a couple hun just in materials. have fun..... larryhand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Video Shorts

Categories

  • Business
  • Code Questions
  • Construction Techniques
  • Energy, Heating & Insulation
  • General Discussion
  • Help/Work Wanted
  • Photo Gallery
  • Reader Classified
  • Tools for Home Building

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Big Doors Have Big Challenges

Engineered materials and vacuum-press laminations prevent warping and keep a tall, flush-panel door from being excessively heavy.

Featured Video

How to Install Cable Rail Around Wood-Post Corners

Use these tips to keep cables tight and straight for a professional-looking deck-railing job.

Related Stories

  • Podcast Episode 686: Brick Steps, Ground-Source Heat Pumps, and Greenhouses in Nova Scotia
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Efficient HVAC for a New Build
  • Affordable Scans, Accurate Plans
  • FHB Summit 2025 — Design, Build, Business

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2024
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers
  • Issue 327 - November 2024
    • Repairing Damaged Walls and Ceilings
    • Plumbing Protection
    • Talking Shop

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

Enjoy unlimited access to Fine Homebuilding. Join Now

Already a member? Log in

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data