Main > Main Forum
cab covering opinion
SS427:
Ok, I know this has probably been discussed over and over, but I have finished cutting out the pieces for my cabinet and I am trying to decide about what to use to cover it with. The main options I was looking at were 1) laminate, 2) wood stain (wood look or colored stain), 3) painting (lots to choose from here). What would your choice be if you were starting a new cabinet? What are the pros and cons for which covering you used?
Thanks
SS427
Wienerdog:
You made your cab already, it depends on the wood you used. Let us know, and we will let you know...
Frostillicus:
--- Quote from: SS427 on March 04, 2003, 10:45:25 pm ---Ok, I know this has probably been discussed over and over, but I have finished cutting out the pieces for my cabinet and I am trying to decide about what to use to cover it with. The main options I was looking at were 1) laminate, 2) wood stain (wood look or colored stain), 3) painting (lots to choose from here). What would your choice be if you were starting a new cabinet? What are the pros and cons for which covering you used?
Thanks
SS427
--- End quote ---
I say painting - if you work it you will get the best finsih. use a good sanding sealer to seal the grain and a high gloss black and it will look like excellent.
Xphile:
you will get as many different opinions as there are people here...:-)
that said, if I had the money, I'd go Black Laminate.. easy to clean, no worries about minor scratches and dings like a painted surface, I suppose these things could be said about painted as well, but the biggie for me (if you used ply instead of MDF) is -no worrying about cracking when your ply expands or shrinks (it may adjust to it's new location in your house - whether it's warmer and less humid than in the lumber yard you bought it, or the garage where you made it..it may shrink or expand enough to cause minor cracking to appear through the paint)
It's a serious pain in the ass to really hide grain well even on sanded high quality ply. I made a couple side pieces to replace the damaged ones on my space harrier and I must've sprayed 6 coats of primer over a week and a half (high quality stuff we use at work) filling and sanding between coats before I was really satisfied it was glass perfect (even on the edge grain:-) . got them home, applied them, and 1.5 months later a couple fine cracks began to appear on each side running with the grain...totally pissed me off. >:( I was gonna leave them gloss white, but I have to find some kind of signmaking sheet vinyl to made replactment artwork now..
I dunno if it's normal, but with laminate you don't have to risk it..
SS427:
I am using a pre-sanded plywood which I have sanded down further to get a smoother finish. One of the paints we looked at tonight was a black with a slight texture to it, I think it was called "hammered". I haven't checked at home depot yet, but the local Lowes doesn't have regular black laminate (might get it special order).
Thanks for the replies (hadn't thought about the paint cracking, since it is in the garage and I'll be bringing inside).
SS427