Painting Metal Cabinets & Shelves

[nolimits76]

I recently picked up some metal cabinets & shelf units off Craigslist. While functionally great, they need some TLC. I'd like to throw on a coat of paint on them to help the aesthetics -- probably black or a dark grey.

One unit is about 72" x 36" x 18" with metal lockable doors. The other is 84" x 36" x 18" and is heavy duty metal open shelving. Solid shelves and a unistrut type material for the legs. Also it has metal cross bracing on the back.

I snagged both units for $60 so I am very happy with the bang for buck. And since I am in a temporary house rental I need storage that can be easily moved later when I buy another property.

So paint guru's....what's the best technique and paint types to use?

 

[FJ 432]

I rolled mine with a quart of Rustoleum enamel that you can find at home depot. I used a foam roller and I may have cut it a little with thinner. Came out nice and really hard to mess up.

 

[nolimits76]

Yeah I was wondering if rolling would be better than spraying. A few articles I've read online talk about spraying but honestly I don't think I've ever had a spray job that I liked that I self performed. Maybe I do it wrong.

Granted these are shop cabinets, so its not the end of the world -- but did the foam rollers leave any marks showing it was rolled?

 

[Bretny]

If you can hvlp spray them do it. That rustoleum in the can goes on real nice when sprayed through a hvlp gun. I sprayed my metal garage doors and about 6 metal cabinets about a year ago.

 

[FJ 432]

Yes they show some lines a little however I'm very much like you in that I can't spray out of a can. Rolling is much easier and more cost effective.

BTW a HVLP sprayer did make me a better spray painter.

 

[rburke65]

I have achieved good results with a foam roller...HF....and Rustolium. This, of course, after a scrub, sanding or a Scotch pad followed by a power wash and a baking in the sun to dry....then roll. A little..?..Flotrol, I think it's called to promote the paint to 'lay down' and cabinets came out nice.

 

[nolimits76]

Yeah I planned on using my sander to rough up the surface. Most areas have old paint so I just need a rough surface so it adheres well. I think anyways, I'm not a professional painter by any means. After I'm done sanding I planed on washing it and letting it dry good before applying any paint.

I'm not familiar with using an HVLP sprayer. Would this work?

https://www.harborfreight.com/professional-automotive-hvlp-spray-gun-kit-94572.html

 

[W_KY]

I’m in a similar situation. My plan was to peel of all the stickers, hit with polycarbide wheel on the angle grinder for anything I can’t get off, lightly sand with powered sander to roughen up remaining paint, clean with simple green and pressure washer, spray primer on any bare metal, then roll on some rustleum smoke grey with flotrol to help it lay smooth. I’ll use a foam roller.

 

[Stuart in MN]

You want to thoroughly clean them first to remove any dirt, oils, wax or furniture polish, etc., so it doesn't get ground into the surfaces when you scuff or sand them.

 

[cybrdyke]

clean with simple green

Careful. I've had simple green residue kill a few paint jobs.
I prefer acetone, mineral spirits or paint thinner for cleaning before painting.
CD

 

[wayne55]

I rolled some Rustoleum on some metal chairs after sanding them and used the foam roller as some of the above suggested. I was pleased.

 

[Thirdyfivepickup]

Yeah I was wondering if rolling would be better than spraying. A few articles I've read online talk about spraying but honestly I don't think I've ever had a spray job that I liked that I self performed. Maybe I do it wrong.

Granted these are shop cabinets, so its not the end of the world -- but did the foam rollers leave any marks showing it was rolled?

I rolled my Craftsman cart with Rustoleum gloss black. I rushed the job. I mean *really* rushed. (like I was trying to make it look bad.) I didn't thin the paint and it laid on smooth and I didn't have any lines or major imperfections. Three fairly heavy coats and it looked good. I sanded it with 400, 600, 1000 grit and put a very quick buff on it. Looks really nice to be honest. I would definitely do Rustoleum.

 

[zekgb64]

I shot my Craigslist cabinets with Rustoleum thinned 2:1 with Acetone and with .25 part of Valspar Enamel Hardener added. I used the $100 HF HVLP airless unit and it came out pretty good after figuring out the proper gun adjustments and thinning ratios. I initially tried foam rollers with Penetrol but wasn't happy with the results (might have been my poor technique but drying time is so long I didn't have the patience for figuring it out.)

 

[machsnell]

Maybe I used the wrong rustoleum but I have painted a few dump beds and trailer with rustoleum (the cheap stuff in gallons) and they aren't tough to scratches and they got a chalky film on them always.

I asked a paint buddy and he told me to use? Can't remember the name of the stuff. It was coms8dersbly more. Expensive but held up much much better and hasn't faded.

Maybe mixing or gettimg the enamel or hardner is the ticket.

Also I have heard guys on here talking about the hf purple hvlp gun as being surprisingly good and very cheap? Fwiw.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[metlmunchr]

Yeah I planned on using my sander to rough up the surface. Most areas have old paint so I just need a rough surface so it adheres well. I think anyways, I'm not a professional painter by any means. After I'm done sanding I planed on washing it and letting it dry good before applying any paint.

I'm not familiar with using an HVLP sprayer. Would this work?

https://www.harborfreight.com/professional-automotive-hvlp-spray-gun-kit-94572.html

The purple HF gun that's $13.99, and often on sale for $9.99, does a good job. It only uses about 6 cfm so it will run on a 2hp compressor for extended use, and on a smaller one for intermittent use. The other HF guns use around 15 cfm, so if a person doesn't have a legitimate 5hp compressor, they're not going to work very well.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Like a lot of others, my way of doing it is to: 1) clean with detergent, 2) scuff with a 3M pad, 3) wipe down with acetone, and 4) prime and/or paint.

 

[chitowncamaro]

Not to get off topic here but has anyone wrapped there cabinets in vinyl?

 

[CraigStu]

Here ya go
https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/stops-rust/hammered-spray/
I love this stuff. Goes on easy. Drys quickly and has a hard surface. Heavier coats give more of the hammered effect. If you will be doing enough to make a spray gun a worthwhile investment, it is also available in quart cans. There is also a 'universal' version if everything you want to paint is not metal.

 

[Bretny]

The hammered stuff in a quart can sprays nice through a hvlp gun too. I sprayed a file cabinet with it that i found on the side of the road.

 

[PWC Repair]

I rolled mine with a quart of Rustoleum enamel that you can find at home depot. I used a foam roller and I may have cut it a little with thinner. Came out nice and really hard to mess up.

Exactly what I was thinking. It will lay out smooth and there's no overspray.