Anyone Experienced w/ Vinyl Wrapping Melamine Cabinets?

[Dan in Pasadena]

As the title asks, does anyone have experience?

I've got three large new melamine cabinets in my new-to-me garage and I have two more I'm moving in from my old garage. I read online that melamine IS paintable if I sand and use a high bond primer($$$$), allow that to cure thoroughly and then paint.

Now that I've watched a few YouTube videos I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile to consider wrapping them? It SEEMS easy in the videos. No idea what the material costs, how scratch resistant and how durable the finished work is?

I'm considering a matte gray that matches my wall paint or possibly red to match my tool boxes. Guessing wrap with a gloss would show scratches easily. All opinions appreciated.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Any kind of wrapped cabinets I ever had, peeled. At the very least, the corners would curl.

 

[FlaGman]

No problem painting melamine. Wipe it down with lacquer thinner, sand it with 220 grit foam paper, prime it with white pigmented shellac (BIN/Zinzer brand is most common), and paint with anything you want.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks guys. I just sent on Amazon to see if they sold the vinyl. They do and it is very pricey. I don't want to spend that kind of money on this project, so panting it is!

Pics coming elsewhere later. Thanks again, Dan

 

[Shiftless]

I had success painting white melamine by using this primer first. It’s not too expensive. A quart goes a long way doing cabinets. Easy water cleanup.

 

[white6589]

Check out Valspar bonding primer from Lowes works great, it's sandable too. My go to primer for refinishing cabinets ect.



https://www.lowes.com/pd/Valspar-In...rimer-Actual-Net-Contents-32-fl-oz/1000358881.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Melamine cabinets are usually made with particle board. Particle board absorbs moisture like a sponge and then swells. If you live in a climate that has moderate to high humidity, they will look like **** in a few years.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Just a follow up to this thread.

I used Behr Bonding primer which is for "...challenging surfaces requiring extreme adhesion." It is white and I didn't have it tinted - probably should have. I sanded with 60 grit which is way rough BUT it really only barely scratched the melamine! It put uniform scratches on the surface but didn't go through it except a few minor places on the edges. Primed, waited about 2 hours and painted with Behr eggshell enamel. Probably should have been semi gloss in hindsight but oh well. I'm guessing that for as long as I'll have these cheap *** cabinets its not a big deal.

Pic's:

 

[larry4406]

Looks good to me!

Was wondering if you could use Monokote, the plastic/vinyl covering used on model aircraft wings?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X4OPN6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[pioneer1]

Just a follow up to this thread.

I used Behr Bonding primer which is for "...challenging surfaces requiring extreme adhesion." It is white and I didn't have it tinted - probably should have. I sanded with 60 grit which is way rough BUT it really only barely scratched the melamine! It put uniform scratches on the surface but didn't go through it except a few minor places on the edges. Primed, waited about 2 hours and painted with Behr eggshell enamel. Probably should have been semi gloss in hindsight but oh well. I'm guessing that for as long as I'll have these cheap *** cabinets its not a big deal.

Pic's:

Going to look good with that new floor