Metal Cabinet Paint

[moogoob]

I just received a freebee metal cabinet (file cabinet like, but small, no roller drawers)and would like to give it a coat paint.

I don't have a paint gun so I'm looking a rattle canning it.
I've had mixed experiences, so I come to you.

Can you recommend a OTC paint to use.

 

[PAToyota]

I've been doing a bunch of metal cabinets with Hammerite Rust Cap paint - looks very nice.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=124268&postcount=20

 

[5wndwcpe]

Hammerite is good stuff. Eastwoods rattle cans are good as well.

 

[tojan19]

I'd also recommend Hammerrite. I've used it a few times and its a great product, stops rust pretty well and is tough. I decided to recently refinish a metal cabinet w/ rustoleum because the had a metallic blue color I really liked and it was convenient to get at Lowes. What a mistake. It does't spray smooth, the nozzle ***** and it was hard to get nice coverage, it was very difficult to get the paint to flow and evenly apply. It's also not very hard even after a few weeks. I'm going to have to tough up a few scratches already and find a tough clear coat to put over it. Would have saved a lot of work if I had just got some hammerite. I think I've also decided to never buy a spray can again and stick to using my spray gun.

 

[moogoob]

^^^ I used rustoleum hammered finish for my PC case. It looks nice, but my experience is the same as yours. Hard to spray evenly, and I dont think it would hold up to cabinet use.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[MXtras]

Just keep in mind that when it comes to rattle cans the faster the paint dries, the less durable the finish. That has been my observation over the years.

Scott

 

[gorilla]

Krylon seems to be the best rattle can paint around, rustoleum is about the worst. Rustoleum works well when applied with a brush or a small roller and is inexpensive.If you need a really durable finish and can stand the price look in to powder coating.

 

[moogoob]

I'll probably have a mx of metal and wood cabinets.

I figure using the same paint would be the eaiest way to make things match.


Will the hammerite adhere to the wood surfaces.

 

[jimvannoy]

If I need to paint something cheap and quick I use Krylon. Not real scratch resistant but it's cheap, flows good, and dries fast. Also a lot easier to do a quick job with. No mixing, hardener, gun cleaning, etc. A lot of times I'll paint something with it and the next time I am clear coating a car or truck I'll throw a couple coats on whatever it was I painted.

 

[PAToyota]

Will the hammerite adhere to the wood surfaces.

The second picture in the post I linked to is of a wood cabinet door.

 

[jr2]

I've been doing a bunch of metal cabinets with Hammerite Rust Cap paint - looks very nice.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=124268&postcount=20

I'll agree with PA.. I just painted a few of my display cabinets with the Hammerite Rust Encapsulator. (Camera phone shots so the color is not correct)

It's more expensive than the standard Hammerite but they didn't have the green color I wanted (Mid-Green)

in the standard Hammerite. I thinned it with MEK (it's what I had on hand) and after a few trial tests proportionately it sprayed fine.

 

[moogoob]

Those look great!

I just put my order in for 6 cans of smooth bright red (spray cans).
Amazon was the cheapest I couuld find. Would have been better if it was a free shipping deal.

$7.40 a can... better than the the other main paint sites at $11 - $17

Now I have some time to drill out the rivets for the label holder/handles to make a clean job of things.

Should I re-rivet, or do a nut/bolt combo... I'm leaning towards the nut/bolt combo.

... and off topic, in the mean time i refinished a bass guitar using the same stuff I stained and coated my wood floors with (Bona Kemi Satin)... Every part and gear got a cleaning and lube. Its part of the detailing obsession that began over at autopia.org.

Cheers! and thanks for the replies. I'll post the results when is complete.

 

[e-tek]

When ever I spray with a rattlecan/spraybomb, I use one of those spray gun attachments. They are only a few bucks, last a LONG time and really make a difference as to how well you can spray. Just snaps onto top of can and the trigger pushes the spraycap down - much better control.