Painting - a less painful way?

[Rene Shekerjian]

I've built a variety of cabinets in the past year or so, and am struggling with painting. I have been building in pine, which I have found to not work well with stain, so I end up painting what I build (or I leave them unfinished).

The larger cabinets aren't too bad to paint, but the smaller ones are a pain, kind of like the difference between sheet rocking a small bathroom and a large living room.

On one of the small cabinets, I tried painting the interior before assembly. That basically tossed the accuracy I had worked hard to achieve right out the window. Not horrific, but definitely disappointing.

I am currently painting a tall, narrow cabinet that is basically a set of cubbies with individual doors. I haven't installed the top or the bottom yet, so I have some improved access, but it is still a pain.


Have any of you come up with techniques that make painting (or finishing) less painful? Is there a way to paint before assembly without screwing up tolerances/accuracy of fit?

I do use a high density foam roller, which has made some aspects easier, but accessing all the nooks and crannies is still tough.


Thanks,

Rene

[Richard Coers]

Do not put the back on the cabinet until you are finished painting. Buy a good spray system. We don't know what kind of construction you are using, so advising on screwing up the tolerances/accuracy is impossible.

[Rene Shekerjian]

Thanks, Richard. I should have mentioned that the backs are floating panels, so when I assemble the cabinets, the backs have to be put in. Maybe I should use rabbets instead of grooves and then I can leave the panels off and then install them with some small molding.

[Rene Shekerjian]

PS I make my cabinets with stiles and rails all the way around. I have a bunch of rough sawn lumber that I am milling up and using. Plus I am not a big fan of plywood sides on free standing cabinets, even though they would eliminate a few of the challenges I have faced..

[Maurice Mcmurry]

When spraying is not an option an end nap finger roller is a big help. I apply with a finger roller then back brush with the tips of a high quality brush. Finding a paint you like and learning its tricks takes some time. I use Benjamin Moore Satin Impervo or Benjamin Moore Aura + Extender. Some of the end nap rollers leave fuzz behind, particularly with the Oil Impervo. A whizz roller that has been used on latex and cleaned several times will shed its fuzz and become a good roller for oil based Impervo.

https://www.whizzrollers.com/mini-rollers

These rollers will paint right into corners. If you use good paint and are OK with a little roller texture you can sometimes skip tipping off with a brush.

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