painting small project?

[Ron Stadler]

I made this shoe rack for my mother and would like some advice on painting it, I will be using a brush but painting the sides between the shelves would force me to paint horizontally rather than vertically like I would be painting if the shelves were not there, second painting the shelves themselves may pose a problem in the inside areas. Any help would greatly be appreciated on how to go about this. Thanks: )
265406

[Sam Murdoch]

Perhaps buy a few cans of spray paint (and primer) and apply multiple light coats. Hopefully this rack does not have a back or that the back is removable.

[Ron Stadler]

I was trying to stay away from having to buy more paint but if that is the way to get the best finish then possibly I will move in that direction, I would think though that it might be hard to spray inbetween the shelves without getting runs. Not sure though.

[Eric Thumb]

Perhaps I'm missing something but is there a reason why you can't turn it on its side and paint the sides? Also do the bottom of the shelves even need a coat of paint? Are they visible?

[Art Mann]

I was trying to stay away from having to buy more paint but if that is the way to get the best finish then possibly I will move in that direction, I would think though that it might be hard to spray inbetween the shelves without getting runs. Not sure though.

I have sprayed assemblies similar to that with my HVLP sprayer and gotten very good results. I would think that using rattle cans would work the same way. I don't see how you are going to be able to brush out the paint properly with such a tight spacing. I know that hindsight is 20/20 but I would probably have painted the inaccessible surfaces before assembly.

[Phil Thien]

Rattle cans are an expensive way to buy paint.

I'd go to Menards and get yourself one of these:
http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/power-tools/compressors-and-pneumatic-tools/air-tools/high-volume-low-pressure-spray-gun/p-1442770-c-12915.htm

It is the same touch-up gun sold on Amazon having terrific reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/Tool-Force-A-C2-Touch-Up-Spray/dp/B000EX0EYU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372565447&sr=8-1&keywords=touch+up+gun

(If you have time, order from Amazon and save money).

Of course, you will need a compressor to run the gun. A little pancake compressor will drive it pretty nicely. I actually use a compressor smaller than a pancake, and it works great.

I obviously agree w/ those that are telling you to spray.

[Ron Stadler]

Rattle cans are an expensive way to buy paint.

I'd go to Menards and get yourself one of these:
http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/power-tools/compressors-and-pneumatic-tools/air-tools/high-volume-low-pressure-spray-gun/p-1442770-c-12915.htm

It is the same touch-up gun sold on Amazon having terrific reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/Tool-Force-A-C2-Touch-Up-Spray/dp/B000EX0EYU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372565447&sr=8-1&keywords=touch+up+gun

(If you have time, order from Amazon and save money).

Of course, you will need a compressor to run the gun. A little pancake compressor will drive it pretty nicely. I actually use a compressor smaller than a pancake, and it works great.

I obviously agree w/ those that are telling you to spray.

OK guys, sounds like spraying would have been the best option. I did however go ahead and paint it with a brush, it took some time but I got it done. As for the finish, well, we will see after a couple coats what it looks like, but obviously not going to look as good as a sprayed on finish.
I think I will invest in one of those sprayers your talking about though and I've also been wanting to get a small compressor for my lathe projects. So maybe by next project I'll have those to work with, Thanks again for all the advice guys, I really do appreciate it. :)