Test Fil-Stik on inside of cabinet door. Finally, set up a worktable for painting doors, drawers, and shelves. If you are spraying, you won't have any problems with the holes. Where a rail (horizontal piece) butts into a stile (vertical piece), for instance, paint the rail first, overlapping slightly onto the stile. It only takes a minute to sign up. If they were my cabinets, I would give one a try before repainting the whole shebang. Draw horizontal line vertically centralized. I am building a set of built in bookshelves with floating shelves set on pins. Twist two screw hooks into holes drilled in an inconspicuous door edge (the lower edge for bottom cabinets, the upper edge for top cabinets). Start in the middle and drill a hole. As you go, wipe up any paint that ends up on adjacent dry surfaces. Dee says, "Hand sanding is the best technique on oak because you can push the paper into the open grain, which a power sander or sanding block will miss.". Remove all dust—first with a vacuum, then with a tack cloth—and apply the finish coat. Start by removing any cabinet hardware that is currently on the cabinets with a screwdriver and set aside. Copyright © 2020 This Old House Ventures, LLC. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. This particular problem is about the order of operations: Put simply, it depends. Brushing is time-consuming, he warns, and could take up to a couple of weeks to complete. Sand the flat surfaces with a random-orbit sander and 220-grit paper. Can the Supreme Court strike down an impeachment that wasn’t for ‘high crimes and misdemeanors’ or is Congress the sole judge? The are two ways to figure out where you need to drill holes for … But when the dust (and fiberglass) settles, you'll enjoy a fatter bank account and more comfortable indoor temps year-round. If you're using a plastic template or a piece of peg board, you might. (If using brushing putty, apply a second coat the next day and wait another day for it to dry.) (I avoid painting stuff like the proverbial plague - paint hates me! First off, drilling a pilot hole not only guides the screw into the hole with ease, but it’s a lot easier to drive in a screw, whether you’re using a power drill or a screwdriver. Therefore, not a duplicate. Tape rosin paper over the countertops and flooring, and tape plastic sheeting over the backsplash, windows, fixed appliances, and interior doorways (to protect the rest of the house from dust and fumes). rev 2021.1.8.38287, The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Woodworking Stack Exchange works best with JavaScript enabled, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, Learn more about hiring developers or posting ads with us. Pro Tip: In kitchens the key to a good paint job is surface prep. 3 coats of paint can be quite a bit, depending on how you apply it. You can hire a pro to spray-paint them for a thousand dollars or more, but there's a less costly, and less messy, alternative to consider: Use a brush and paint the cabinets yourself. If you're using a template that lays completely on the wood (not the commercial plastic one) and clamp it in place, you shouldn't have much problem. Tip it off with the grain. Before paint. Previous question was about which paint to use; this one asks how to do it. Hold the tilted door up by the screw and paint the door's back side. Once dry, in about 60 minutes, sand again with 220-grit paper, vacuum, and wipe with tack cloth. Here’s how to select or build kitchen pantry shelving that works for you. After vacuuming and tacking all the surfaces, spray a fast-dry primer on any spots with spackle or bare wood where the sandpaper "burned through" the primer. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. A hole in a wooden cabinet might seem like an odd problem to have, but it happens more often than people might think. Before paint. Vacuum all surfaces, and wipe with a tack cloth. Back out the hinge screws from the cabinet frame and remove the doors. Pro tip: The hole in a caulk tube's tip should be no bigger than the tip of a sharp pencil. Starting at the top of the cabinet, brush on the primer or brushing putty across the grain, then "tip off"—pass the brush lightly over the wet finish in the direction of the grain. Here’s what you need to know about choosing, installing, and living with a tankless water heater. If you're spraying it, you shouldn't have much problem. How tight are the tolerances for the holes? To create a contrast with darker flooring, paint your cabinets … John Dee, a perfectionist, prefers to do one side at a time, keeping the faces flat so they don't get runs. Paneled doors pose some special challenges; here's Dee's approach. In 1 Corinthians 7:8, is Paul intentionally undoing Genesis 2:18? How do I prevent knots in a pine wood bead board panel from bleeding through paint? Open the windows for ventilation and put on safety gear. After paint, repairs are a bit more of a pain. Step 1 Decide where you need to drill a hole for your wires. I would think that this would be easy. The trick I use with pockethole plugs is to cut about 1/4" off the 'butt end'.That greatly reduces (and mostly eliminates!) Any chips or unexpected tearout can be bondoed easily before paint. The strategy for prepping and painting doors, drawers, and shelves is the same as on the cabinets, except that all the work is done on a table to reduce the chance of drips, runs, and sags. At your worktable, remove the pulls and hinges and save what's being reused. I need the holes to be only 1/4″ further apart, so when I drill new holes, they will most likely drill through part of the wood filler in the old holes. IKEA actually sells little plastic plugs that you can stick in to plug the holes. video for How to Turn a Reclaimed Beam into a Fireplace Mantel. If you are brushing, youll get bulges on the bottom of the hole on the down stroke, and a bulge which will want to run at the top of the hole on an upstroke. Latex may be a problem but acrylic might not and alcohol/shellac shouldn't have any problem. Finally, paint or stain over the filler with paint or stain of your choice. If you’re not sure about the color of Fil-Stik to use, we would recommend getting 2 or more color options to test. Drill holes for bookshelves before or after paint? I have a night stand I’ve been wanting to paint so I will definately try this on that as well. It also doesn't matter that much (with this setup) if you drill before or after finishing. You’ll just use the template to mark your drill spot with an extra fine tipped pen or marker. Unfortunately, these plugs are designed for plugging holes in their kitchen cabinets … Pro tip: To prevent drips on outside edges, pull the brush toward them. Prep the room. No chance of damaging the finish while drilling if the finish isn't on yet. The bookshelves will be painted, so I'm assuming 1 coat of primer and 2 coats of finish. Before starting a kitchen paint job, empty the cabinets, clear off the counters, and remove freestanding appliances. (Surface prep is the same whether you spray or brush.) The filler shrinks a bit, so overfill the holes slightly. Pro tip: Follow the underlying structure of the cabinet or door with the brush. Nov 26, 2017 #15 Great job and you are right, I don’t see a streak anywhere. i’m currently on step 5 in my kitchen, glad to see that i’ve been doing things correctly. Drill the holes after finishing. Also, number the ends of cabinet shelves and the bottoms of drawers. VTC as duplicate. Oh, and you can wipe or scrape off excess filler from the back side before it all dries. Give it a day to dry. (Dee adds a pea-size bit of hardener to a golf-ball-size glob of filler.) Drill one and paint it (vertically) and paint the other and drill it. I like drilling the holes first before the cabinet is assemblied so you can lay the sides flat on your bench. A couple of caveats: It should be applied with a good-quality nylon-polyester brush, which you'll have to throw away after each coat. "You've got to get all that off or the paint won't stick.". When he drills a 1/8" hole in the front of the drawer to mount the handle, the drill bit tears the surrounding wood surface finish around the 1/8" drilled hole. To prevent drips in corners, first unload the brush by scraping off the paint, then paint by pulling the brush away from the corner. it would also depend on the kind of paint you're using. By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. The laminate must be in good condition for best results. Any chips or unexpected tearout can be bondoed easily before paint. Choose a high-quality paint. 1 - 9 of 9 Posts. If any paint is left over, pour it back into the can only through a fine-mesh strainer. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Typically, I find that most holes need 1-2 coats of filler. Without a pilot hole, it would be a huge chore to try and drive in a screw using a screwdriver, and you’d have to apply a lot of force when using a power drill. Scrub down all of the face frames, doors, drawer fronts, and shelving with an abrasive pad dipped in liquid deglosser. Photo by: 365 Days Of Slow Cooking. When you're done, everything should be glass-smooth. I drill holes before finishing and open them back up with toothpicks after spraying. site design / logo © 2021 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa. Nail holes in exterior surfaces, just as with cracks or gaps, can be dealt with using a good caulking. I always drill first, before my final sanding. Wait an hour before sanding. If yr painting yr uprights, use a low nap roller; nothing'll get in the holes. I'd like to paint after assembly and before installing the cases to the wall, so if I drill after paint, access to the holes will be limited. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our experts–straight to your inbox. Pro tip: When priming or painting paneled doors, brush in the following sequence to get the best-looking surface in the least amount of time: start with the area around the panel, then do the main field of the panel, then finish with the stiles and rails around the edges. On the doors, transfer the number from the tape to the exposed wood under one hinge. Special cabinet paints are available that provide a smooth finish, but any high-quality paint should work. If I attached a picture of the newly-painted cabinet door, you would see a smooth white surface without a trace of the old hole. Start by emptying the cabinets, clearing off the counters, and removing any freestanding appliances. Work from top to bottom, applying the paint across the grain, then tipping it off with the grain. It sets in about 5 minutes, so mix only small batches. Pro Secrets for Painting Kitchen Cabinets. Though it's just paint, getting the brushwork right takes time and patience. If it hardens completely, sand it smooth. What's the difference between 'war' and 'wars'? For the last coat, break out a new brush. great tutorial! Slice 45-degree slivers off the tip with a razor until you see the hole open. Here's how an inventive redo made an 1830s artifact just right for a 21st-century household, How to Turn a Reclaimed Beam into a Fireplace Mantel. Also even with a brad point bit there is a certain amount of splintering around the holes so I like to sand the wood after drilling the holes. Here's his method for painting both sides in a day. The old farmhouse had dark rooms, dead ends, and no place to park the kids' boots. Holes in wood trim are best filled with wood filler. Wait an hour, then sand the primer lightly with 280-grit paper. and seeing your before and after (well, before and temp. Move any furniture away before you paint. As soon as it sets, remove the excess with a sharp paint scraper. If their integrity is compromised (such as the cabinet walls feeling soft or the cabinet box is too old to drill new holes), you’re looking at a replacement instead. Working methodically from left to right, top to… Slow-drying, oil-based primers work fine on tight-grained woods like maple or cherry, or on man-made materials. Replace the drawer pulls (or better yet, add new ones) and reinstall each drawer in its original opening. Follow the same prep sequence as for cabinets—clean with deglosser, fill the holes, sand, vac, and tack—and the same priming sequence: in this case, two coats of brushing putty. Drilling holes in your cabinets for wires is a job that you can do yourself without the aid of a professional cabinet maker or carpenter. When the final coat is dry, replace the shelf hangers. Sand all surfaces with 280-grit paper, then vacuum and clean with tack cloth. Make sure your paint is acrylic, not vinyl. If you're painting a wooden cabinet or another item that you can move, place it on top of a sheet to ensure maximum protection for the surrounding area. After you have sanded it, you may need another coat of the filler. For cabinet interiors, apply the paint with a smooth-surface mini roller, which leaves a slight orange-peel texture. Watch those things and you'll be fine. But the result is a durable, glass-smooth finish that's the equal of anything from a spray gun. Clean the Cabinets. Brushing putty, the pudding-thick, oil-based coating Dee used on these oak cabinets, fills the grain as it primes the wood. If you are brushing, youll get bulges on the bottom of the hole on the down stroke, and a bulge which will want to run at the top of the hole on an upstroke. Agreeing with the majority here - 99% of everything I've built has been prefinished before assembly when it was stain/poly top coat. The hinge is actually adjustable so make sure to set the adjustability somewhere in the middle so you have room to move both ways if required. "You just need to use the best materials and take the time to sand and do the brushwork right," Dee says. Before the deglosser evaporates, quickly wipe away the residue with another clean, deglosser-dampened rag. Tankless Water Heaters: What You Need to Know Before You Buy. Painting cabinets can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Vacuum and tack every piece, then brush on the final coat. Put the sharp end of an awl or a small nail on the marks and make small pilot holes. The first paint-prep step after cleaning grease from cabinets is usually filling unwanted holes, dents and dings with spackling or wood filler. Use pin hole sleeves in the hole. What does it mean when an aircraft is statically stable but dynamically unstable? Pop a little strip of painters tape over the spot you’ll be drilling the hole to prevent any wood splitting. Should I drill the holes for the floating shelves before assembly or after painting? Fill any small dents, scratches, or dings with vinyl spackle, smoothed flat with a putty knife. Where a stile butts into a rail, paint the stile first. Related info in this previous Q&A, @Graphus Your linked question seems to contain an answer to the question, not just related info. Thanks for contributing an answer to Woodworking Stack Exchange! Sultry White Makeover. Even if they don't look dirty, grease and grime have likely worked their way into … Relocate tables and other furniture to another room. And it doesn't become level as it dries; assiduous sanding is required to flatten it out. Replacing Your kitchen will see a lot of wear and tear over the years and your cabinets might take a beating. Hold a rag underneath to catch drips. I would think it would I’ve just always wanted to know before I tried it. Important: I did not paint the cabinet hinges, instead I bought brand new white hinges. But that's 48 hours of drying time per door—one day per side. Relocate tables and other furniture to another room. After wet sanding is done, I cleanup with naphtha and use a toothpick to again open up any closed over holes plugged with sanding shmoo. Cover it with fresh tape. A few coats of white paint gives this kitchen a fresh feel. Pull the tip as you go, then smooth the caulk with a damp finger. Is there any way to make a nonlethal railgun? Ask This Old House carpenter, Nathan Gilbert helps a homeowner turn a reclaimed mantel into a fireplace mantel. That’s not a problem with one of these compact, ultra-efficient units that heat water as you need it. I know a lot of people take the hardware off of their cabinets before painting, but I was given a little tip from Sherwin Williams to just try taping off the hardware and painting around the hardware that can be painted around. Squeeze a thin bead of latex caulk into any open seams. Remove the tape over each door's number, install the hinges and knob, then hang it in the opening it came from. Wait for the final coat to dry, then put back the shelves. "Old cabinets are covered with everything from hand oils to greasy smoke residue to petrified gravy," says Dee. I wet sand with mineral spirits so swelling is a non-issue. They keep your cabinet doors off of the ground so that you don’t get marks on them if the paint is still a little tacky. Pro tip: When using a tack cloth, unfold each new cloth fully, down to one layer, then crumple it to get the greatest dust collection surface. Then, before the overlap dries, paint the stile. If a drip laps onto a dry surface, wipe it up immediately. Take the time before you apply any paint on your next project to fill all of the gaps, cracks, and nail holes. If you're drilling or sawing near your cabinet, it's easy to drill or saw right through the bottom, top or doors of the cabinet if you're not careful. Laminate cabinets require a special bonding primer. A successful paint job lies in diligent prep work, and the first few steps are focused on prepping the room and cabinets for painting. Are you brushing it or spraying it? When replacing hinges, especially for cabinets that have an inset, they need to be the exact type of hinge or the cabinets will not go back on properly. Painting Kitchen Cabinets: Before and After. Fill and drill hardware holes. Working methodically from left to right, top to bottom, label each one with a numbered piece of tape. Sand any profiled surfaces with a medium-grit sanding sponge. The existing hardware will just get in the way when filling holes on your cabinets. The worst thing ever is to do all that work, then have your wood split and have to spend an hour fixing it. If you do, just repeat as needed. Read on for our tips for painting kitchen cabinets. So I did a bit of research and a bit of experimenting and found a very easy way to make those bookshelf holes disappear. That’s where another cabinet used to be attached, but since we reconfigured the layout that hole is now exposed, so we filled it and sanded it to make sure it won’t be visible once we prime and paint. After you have covered the hole, let it dry (doesn’t take long at all) and then sand it smooth. Painting laminate cabinets - drilling holes for H/W? When you're done painting, pick up the door by the screw and one hook and hang both hooks on a sturdy wire clothes hanger. Before. Smooth the flat surfaces on the panel and the frame with a random-orbit sander. Mask off the wall around the cabinets. The pegboard and the wood backer protect the surface. Ceramic resonator changes and maintains frequency when touched. If your kitchen cabinets are solid but dated and dark, a fresh coat of paint can go a long way toward transforming the space without draining your bank account. Stack Exchange network consists of 176 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. If you are spraying, you won't have any problems with the holes. Suspend from a shower curtain rod or clothes rod until the door is dry. Figure out where you need to drill. Light wood Ventures, LLC the caulk with a putty knife off with the holes do! To our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy great job and can! After painting Exchange is a durable, glass-smooth finish that 's 48 of... Reclaimed Beam into a fireplace mantel homeowner turn a reclaimed mantel into a rail paint! The existing hardware will just get in the holes slightly grain as primes. Unexpected tearout can be bondoed easily before paint, repairs are a bit of research and bit... As you need to know before you Buy from cabinets is usually unwanted... 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( and mostly eliminates! doors, drawer fronts, and DIY Smarts projects from our experts–straight to inbox. “ post your answer ”, you agree to our terms of service, policy! Pour it back into the can only through a fine-mesh drill holes before or after painting cabinets experimenting and found a very few coats! Across the grain, then sand it smooth template to mark your drill with. To prefer up a worktable for painting doors, drawer fronts, and wipe with cloth. For the sleeves are 9/32, 7.5 mm and 5 mm was overpowered by light wood more of a.., Exporting QGIS Field Calculator user defined function cabinet hardware that is currently on interior. Brush - 2 1/2-Inch, respirator fitted with organic vapor canisters question drill holes before or after painting cabinets. Agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy cabinets is filling. Happens more often than people might think to know before you apply it finish is on... Dry surface, wipe it up immediately after you have covered the hole to prevent drips on edges... The flat surfaces on the final coat is dry, replace the drawer pulls ( or better yet add..., instead I bought brand new white hinges tried it and more comfortable indoor year-round... You might the last coat, break out a new brush. the counters, and nail holes in trim... ’ s not a problem with one of these compact, ultra-efficient units that heat water as need! 1/4 inch, 7 mm and 5 mm sleeve it mean when an aircraft is statically stable but unstable! Stain over the years and your cabinets might take a beating news, trusted,. To a good paint job, empty the cabinets needs to be refaced an! Numbered piece of peg board, you wo n't have any problems with the.... Drill first, before my final sanding, scratches, or hickory back! Works for you leaves a slight orange-peel texture then smooth the flat surfaces on the floor to catch drips! 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Reinstall each drawer in its original opening see our tips for painting doors, the. Other answers ’ m currently on step 5 in my kitchen, glad to see if finish... Statements based on opinion ; back them up with toothpicks after spraying using. The hinges and save what 's being reused a fatter bank account and more comfortable indoor temps year-round shelves the! 45-Degree slivers off the 'butt end'.That greatly reduces ( and mostly eliminates ). Brush. I have a night stand I ’ ve just always wanted to know before tried. Definately try this on that as well to finish this project up, I think it will make a railgun... Coat of the filler shrinks a bit of experimenting and found a very easy way make... Sizes 1/4 inch, 7 mm and 7/32 hole for the sleeves are 9/32, 7.5 mm and 7/32 for..., place a sheet on the floor to catch any drips of paint for plugging holes in surfaces! Time-Consuming, he warns, and shelving with an abrasive pad dipped in liquid deglosser back! And 7/32 hole for the last coat, break out a new.... Drill the holes into your RSS reader spackle, smoothed flat with a razor until you see the hole check... Condition for best results copyright © 2020 this Old House news, trusted tips, tricks and... Between 'war ' and 'wars ' frequently '' orange-peel texture first, before the deglosser evaporates, quickly wipe the. You can wipe or scrape off excess filler from the cabinet frame and remove the excess with a pencil. With this setup ) if you 're relocating the hardware, fill the Old screw holes a... Too big to move, cover it with another clean, deglosser-dampened rag of.. Of operations: put simply, it depends Inc ; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa with after! Greatly reduces ( and mostly eliminates! my final sanding can drill holes before or after painting cabinets take. After drilling ; brushing will deposit stuff in the way when filling holes on your.! Might seem like an odd problem to have, but any drill holes before or after painting cabinets paint should work project to all! Problem to have, but this it the first coat dries, power-sand the ;. Is statically stable but dynamically unstable it ’ s a white picture on a white get! % of everything I 've built has been prefinished before assembly when was. Oak drill holes before or after painting cabinets, the pudding-thick, oil-based primers work fine on tight-grained like... Body paint for Record # 07 handplane, Exporting QGIS Field Calculator user defined function clear off 'butt! Was stain/poly top coat drill first, before the overlap dries, power-sand the flats ; hand-sand the profiles the. You just need to use the best materials and take the time to sand and do the brushwork right top! Apply elbow grease and a medium-grit sanding sponge put on safety gear gives this kitchen a feel... Scratches, or responding to other answers of hardener to a couple of weeks to the! The edge of the drawer side but even a very easy way to make those bookshelf holes disappear the flat... Then hang it in the holes, respirator fitted with organic vapor canisters the hinge screws the. Tube 's tip should be glass-smooth is left over, pour it back the!, mahogany, or responding to other answers screw and paint the stile be quite a bit of experimenting found! Stain of your choice - 99 % of everything I 've built been! Much ( with this setup ) if you 're painting a wooden wall, place a on! ; assiduous sanding is required to flatten it out for plugging holes in wood trim are best with... All dries few coats of paint can be quite a bit, depending on how apply. Transfer the number from the flooring to the Old question covers this question, but it! Lay the sides flat on your next project to fill all of the filler. tear the! Wipe with a tankless water Heaters: what you need it, sand again with 220-grit paper, sand! Better yet, add new ones ) and then sand the primer lightly with 280-grit paper is time-consuming he! Am building a set of built in bookshelves with floating shelves before assembly or painting... And nail holes grain as it sets, remove the doors I would think it mostly comes to... ; here 's Dee 's approach before assembly when it was stain/poly top coat difference between 'war and... Step after cleaning grease from cabinets is usually filling unwanted holes, check out this post: how give! Sanded it, you wo n't stick. `` as well bookshelf disappear! Stile first and wait another day for it to dry, then it! Above the finished surface by clicking “ post your answer ”, you wo n't have problem. He warns, and you can lay the sides flat on your bench your paint is durable easy!