Clear coat after painting cabinet?

[Skadar]

I'm currently painting my cabinet with a semi-gloss latex enamel and I'm wondering if I need to apply a clear top coat after the painting is finished.  Has anyone done this?  Interior latex paint is quite "soft" and will scratch very easily, so I was thinking of applying a top coat.

[JONTHEBOMB]

I have never heard of someone doing this and I think the polyurethane would eat off the paint.  So maybe test it on a scrap piece of wood before you do it on your cabinet.

I would suggest putting three or four coats of paint on if your worried about scratches.

[MajorHavoc]

You could try a water based polyurethane.  Next to no odor, drys quickly and easy clean up.  Check out your friendly neighborhood hardware store.  Don't be afraid of "store brand" .  I've used both name brand and store brand water based polyurethane on several household projects with equally nice results. 

[prOk]

be very careful 'clearcoating' a painted surface.. you want to avoid laquers at all costs..  and be careful not to mix water based and oil based etc. or you'll get splotchy/cloudy results.   Personally, the game will most likely be in your house and well taken care of, so it's probably an unnecessary step..

/brian

http://www.rgvac.com

[rdagger]

I used a clear satin spray paint on my yoke and on the inner walls of my cab with good results.

[TurboC--]

Err.  I'm currently repainting/retouching my oil-based Pac man artwork.  I had planned to clear coat it because I don't think the finish will look good otherwise...

[jhanson]

I clear coated mine, and I'm glad I did it.  I have a cat that loves to scratch anything he knows I like.

[madmagician]

there is a clear acrylic spray made by rustoleum that resembles car clearcoat.  Supposedly it is useable over latex or oil based, but I have only used it over oil based paint.  I think it is in their painter's touch line. 

http://www.rustoleum.com/product.asp?frm_product_id=32&SBL=1

Krylon also has a clear Matte and clear gloss that I have used on many wargaming miniatures (metal painted with acrylic) with no problems.  Read the directions and paint carefully.

http://krylon.com/main/product_template.cfm?levelid=5&sub_levelid=8&productid=1736&content=product_details

I also found this on their website.

http://krylon.com/main/color_creations_template.cfm?levelid=5&sub_levelid=26&sub_productid=119&content=product_details


Never ever ever polyurethane over paint.

[TurboC--]

Would take a whole lot of cans to spray a whole cab?

[stratjakt]

There's a clear coat stuff at home depot called "polycrylic", its water based, and safe to use over latex.  Comes in gloss and matte.

It works fairly well, I used it to put a protective finish on some cabinets I built to house my consoles - I painted, clearcoated them and did T-mold to give them somewhat of an industrial/arcade feel.

Some notes, the paint tends to dry on the edges of the can or wherever, and leave little rubbery white strands, which get on your roller, and on the finished product.  Once everything dries, they go clear, but its hard to get a smooth clear finish..

Also, its pretty good for scratches, but not the most protective stuff around (I should have just used a good solid enamel for my cabs, but I had leftover wall color) - I spilled a little bit of rubbing alcohol on it while cleaning some NES carts, and it ate into the clear coat, leaving a cloudy splotch behind..

The can warns it may slightly yellow the paint beneath.  I didn't notice this, but my color was a very dark blue (as close to black as a blue paint can be).  Always do a test before coating your cab..

In the end, it's good, I'd recommend using the matte version of it, two or three very thin coats..