Paint prep question

[WhoWhatNow]

How do you guys prep for previously painted metal for new paint? There are tons of threads on restorations of old tool cabinets and the like and the paint looks awesome. Do you typically take them down to bare metal then prime/paint or just rough up the surface and use a thick coat of primer? I have two projects that I want to repaint and don’t know the best way to handle the painting. One is a Hilti wall cabinet and the other a few blueprint drawers. Taking the blueprint drawers down to bare metal is going to be a lot of work. Thanks!

 

[Bojans]

If the existing material is in good condition and of the same base material as the new finish you may be able to get away with a wet scotch brite pad and some Ajax or Comet. Clean it off well and shoot your top coat. If you are mixing bases then I would definitely prime it.

 

[Call me the Breeze]

If the old paint is still in good shape ( i.e. not flaking off or rusty) I would leave it as opposed to stripping it. Just scuff it up and paint over it.

 

[Stephenw]

I scuff the paint with an abrasive pad. Then I wipe everything down with a prep-solvent. Finally shoot the paint.

 

[Jack Olsen]

It kind of depends on how it will be used. And what your 'personal standards' are for the finish.

As a rule, if you've got good adhesion between the old paint and the metal, you don't want to take it off. Just scuff it enough so that the new paint will have something to grab.

But some guys enjoy taking it down to bare metal, putting a zinc (so-called self etching) primer on it and then putting multiple coats of a nice automotive-smooth finish on it.

My personal standards are low. (I find it keeps me from ever feeling too much disappointment about my projects.) But I also like to throw paint on just about everything. If you look closely at my big cabinets, you'll see the distinct mark of... that's right, a roller.

Here's a close-up where you can see the texture it leaves.

These cabinets came with very good coats of paint -- some of them were over 25 years old. I cleaned each one, scuffed it lightly, wiped it down with acetone to clean it some more, and rolled on the exterior latex. It ain't classy -- but it's a garage.

 

[WhoWhatNow]

Thanks for the answers guys. Sounds like I will be able to get away with just scuffing up the Hilti cabinet and then painting it. I will post pics when I get it finished.

Jack - after seeing your garage posts and your 911, I suspect that your "low standards" are what most people consider “perfectionist”.

 

[Greatbear]

Only Jack Olsen would have a paint roller that will leave an antique rotary dial telephone on a surface.