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You are here: Experts > Hobbies > Woodworking > Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks > formica cupboards
Expert: Eileen Cronk - 11/2/2009
Question
I think it is Formica, they are dark and from the early 70's I am retired and don't have much to $ replace them. It is so dark in my little kitchen and want to brighten them up...thank you for any help. Joanne
Answer
Hi Joanne
Nice to hear from you.
Your cupboards are a good candidate for painting. And what a difference this will make in your dark little kitchen.
And it won't be a big expense either.
Give the surfaces a good scrub with a TSP solution. You likely know this is purchased at the hardware store in powder form or liquid.
Get the powder. Its cheap ($2.50 for a box which is all you need).
Get a box of Bulldog medium grade steel wool pads. Cost $1.79.
After a good scrub, you are ready to paint.
To avoid the smell of oil paint I would use acrylic waterbased paint.
I normally say use melamine paint which is oil based but it takes a long drying time and smells and the clean up is messy.
Make sure that whatever paint you purchase you ask the salesperson for the correct brush for the paint you are buying (this is important to a perfect job.)
I know you will be wondering about primer.
Heres my thoughts...If you use primer you need two coats of your chosen final paint.
If you use only paint, you need two coats.
So you save the work of applying one extra coat if you don't prime. You be the judge LOL.
Of course you remove all hardware before scrubbing.
The ideal is to remove the doors and paint them on a flat surface but for some folks this is not feasible. You will have to decide that.
If you really want to do a super job, remove all the hinges and pulls and handles and give them a soak in the TSP. Let dry overnight and spray paint them either gold, silver or black.
And now that the doors are off you can really do a great job.
Great Question
Kind Regards
Eileen
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