Painting your cab - spray or brush??

[mkdevo]

just wondering what the general consensus was for painting cabinets - spray paint or brush?? gonna throw some paint on this weekend and wondering what to get (for mdf).. thanks..

[CCM]

I used a roller and it worked out fine...

[Cooper]

Roller here too.  I just did multiple light coats and it came out great.  

[SirPeale]

Yep, roller here as well.  Although I did the front of my cab with spray.  

It was tricky, as spray cans only come out in a tiny little path.  Why is that, anyway?  Can you get a bigger spray nozzle anywhere?

And, if you're going to spray, use an airless sprayer.  Or so I've heard, instead of cans.

[NY_in_TX]

I used a smooth finish roller.  It basically a small smooth foam roller.  It really does a good job.  you can find them at HD or Lowes

I only use spray for small areas and touch ups.  It's hard to get a good consistent finish.  

ny

[pathdoc2]

A roller is definetly the way to go.  You'll finish up fast and it will have the correct texture.

[RedSquirrel]

yup i used a roller. came out nice   Well, i only painted the control panel so far..

[Dartful Dodger]

When I read the first "roller" reply I thought it was a joke.  I'm going to start on my cabinet next weekend, this time I mean it.  I was planning on spraying it, I'm use to painting cars, I didn't even think a roller was a real option.

I've taken lots of notes over the past couple of months, hopefully I'll get it right the first time.  

Now I know ... and knowing is half the battle.

Thanks.

[SirPeale]

When I read the first "roller" reply I thought it was a joke.  I'm going to start on my cabinet next weekend, this time I mean it.  I was planning on spraying it, I'm use to painting cars, I didn't even think a roller was a real option.

I've taken lots of notes over the past couple of months, hopefully I'll get it right the first time.  

Now I know ... and knowing is half the battle.

If you have the equipment for painting cars, and you know how to use it, and you do a good job when you do - then by all means, SPRAY!  Ultimately, spraying will give you the best finish.  A roller give a nice finish, but nowhere near as nice as spraying ever will.

I don't have the equipment to spray, so I'm going to take my cabinet to an auto body shop and have them spray it for me, with auto enamel paint.  It could be a while, though, as I'm poor.  But I anticipate this being the best finish I could do.

[Lilwolf]

People here are saying don't use spray cans..

Rolling comes out great though.  Multiple coats and you are fine.

[walls83]

I used spray and it came out very smooth.  I did multipul coats the key to spray is a light sanding after everycoat except the last coat.  

[Hellfromabove]

The way I do it is use the roller to give it a nice clean look but then over that use gloss spray to give it that nice shine. First time I only used spray paint and it turned out ok. After I started using roller it turned out great. Which brings me to this question. Is it ok to use a roller on plastic? I am buying one of those Jap sit-down cabs (Pony) and I want to paint it black. I was wondering if painting with a roller would do. I mean I was wondering if the paint would drip from the plastic or something along those lines. Is it safe? Any other suggestions or opinions would do. Thanx.

-See Ya!!!

[GamingGreg]

I concur with what's been said.  Spray will yeild the best results, ONLY IF you have the skill.  If not it can come out worse than a roller.  I rolled mine (as I don't have that skill) and it came out fine.  

Also, you'll want to use the thinest roller and sand between coats to give you a smoother finish.

[bionicbadger]

I used a roller, both for priming and for finish coat,  turned out great.  Its simple and you don't have to worry about paint running, or blotches.

They key is to use a primer and let it dry completely before putting on a finish coat.

[ashardin]

I've done 4 cabinets total (3 were for family or good friends), and I've brushed 2, sprayed one and rolled one.

I started with the brush as the cabs I use are those old generic Taito's with the carriage bolts on the outside and I was worried about the bolts catching paint and then dripping.  It turned out to be true that this gave me a problem, so I had to go back over the bolts with a brush to "smoothe" out the paint in those areas.  

So as an experiment I sprayed one (using spray paints) and although the finish was smooth it ended up taking longer and costing more, plus I would say it didn't come out that even.  

So I've learned that the roller works best for a smooth surface, brush if you have anything like the bolts I had, and lastly spray.