Main > Main Forum
Paint/stain or assemble first?
<< < (2/2)
javeryh:
Thanks for the advice.  This is really the first thing I've ever built myself - I just watch a lot of New Yankee Workshop...  ;D  I've been dying to build something and this project is perfect!
elvis:
I always assemble first, for two reasons:

1) Paint (especially thick plastic-based paints) add 1-2mm to your cabinet.  Sometimes that's enough to make a peice that used to fit not fit any more.

2) My carpentry is far from professional.  As such, I need lots of putty to fix up the dodgey bits.  Likewise, I like to countersink all my screws, and putty over, then give it one good quality undercoat, and two to three thin final coats.

Remember more thin final coats look heaps better than fewer thick ones, as paint tends to drip and clump if it's put on too thick.
javeryh:
Thanks for the tips...  I'm planning on putting on a ton of thin coats and sanding in between each one.  I'm probably going to use a colored stain for the base (I'm leaning towards dark blue) and black paint for the top to lay the artwork on.  I'm going to cover the entire piece in several coats of polyurethane to give it a nice smooth finish...  I hope it comes out nice or there's no shot of the wife allowing it in the TV room!  ;D
Navigation
Message Index
Previous page

Go to full version