Painting Cabinet before or after building

[Blueic5]

Looking to start my project at the weekend and had planned to cut all the panels and prime them and possibly painting them before starting to assemble.   What have others done sealing/painting wise before or after putting the cabinet together?

[edekoning]

I guess that depends on you're method of construction. I screwed several panels from the outside to the inside. I then used wood filler to cover up the screws. So painting first was not really an option. I also think that painting first just increases the chances of scratching the paint while assembling everything.

[DaOld Man]

+1 on painting after. You never know if you may have to have a modification until you put everything together.

[leapinlew]

I've done several methods and my second favorite is to do a dry fitting, take it apart, paint it and then put it back together. My first favorite is to use laminate.

[kahlid74]

I'm a fan of completing the cabinet infrastructure build and then painting.  If I paint the parts separately and then assemble I ALWAYS mess up the paint and have to do boat loads of touch up.

[jennifer]

   I like to do the build, assemble, disassemble, then paint method...This takes more time but the results are well worth the effort, any changes
can be done before all that pretty paint gets on there, Most pieces can be test fit in the mock up, The depth of the T moulding channel and
metal trim for example can be fit not necessarily assembled. Depending on the paint you will be using the seams of the cab will potentially
stress crack (with a heavy spray finish) I like to lightly score these seams after the paint is dry so to crack evenly follows the seam and looks
natural, and not like a shell of paint was applied allowing the crack to become uneven and noticeable.... Good luck.

[Blueic5]

my plan was to prime all the panels and then assemble then paint, i was going to try and hide as many screws as possible especialy with the sides using battons etc.  I was going to use a countersink and plastic screw caps also rather than filler.

[mcseforsale]

I paint when it's all assembled.  There's always some clearance/final-fit issues that I have to do.  And sometimes, paint will make your dimensions wrong.  1/16" worth of paint here and there can add up to 1/2" by the time you get to the bottom of the cab.

Oh, and I always paint the inside, too.  I like 'em nerdy inside and out.

AJ

my plan was to prime all the panels and then assemble then paint, i was going to try and hide as many screws as possible especialy with the sides using battons etc.  I was going to use a countersink and plastic screw caps also rather than filler.