School me on cabinet paint

[Jerrod Lollis]

Thanks so much for the help. I’m going to go ahead and apologize in advance because I’m going to ask you some follow up questions that are probably way more complicated than what I’m expecting. I’m planing on using a Sherwin-Williams product, not for financial reasons, but because I have a good working relationship and I’m confident I will get better service, attention etc., unless their products in this area don’t hold up. That being said, I’m including a link to their website showing all of their “cabinet grade finishes”. How do the products you mentioned in your previous post equate to what Sherwin-Williams has? I understand your concern had to do with the VOCs of lacquer and the sorts. What type of product should I be looking for? Nitro cellulose? acrylic polyurethane? Basically, I am trying to find a product that will give me a finish as close to factory sprayed as I can achieve in the field. Thanks so much for the help.

https://industrial.sherwin-williams.com/content/sherwin-williams/pcg/industrial-sw-com/na/us/en/industrial-wood/catalog/category/products-by-industry/kitchen-cabinetry/pigmented-wood-topcoats.10656726.html

[John TenEyck]

Of the SW's products at your link, the two component Sayerlack Premium Poly Topcoat is probably the most durable. However, it's a solvent based product; not one I'd want to be spraying on site, nor anywhere unless I had a solvents rated spray booth. But if your main concern is the appearance of the finish as much as the performance, then any of them will probably give you a factory quality finish if you can spray it well, and that likely includes the products you currently use. Of course some products spray more easily than others, but the spray equipment and person using it are often the deciding factor in how it looks. Talk with your SW Tech. Rep. and see what they recommend.

John

[Scott Holmes]

Here's the best waterborne finish I have ever used... Sherwin Williams Kem Aqua-Plus It's not usually available at the regular SW paint stores you need to purchase it through their Chemical Coating division... I found this when I got the contract to do some repair work at a national restaurant. They have their own SW custom wiping stain color and this was spec'd for the clear coat. Ive done many kitchens and bathrooms with it since 2009. It's KCMA certified and a pleasure to use... it's Spray only!

https://industrial.sherwin-williams....r.9198017.html

[Jim Becker]

I tried the Kem Aqua-Plus, Scott, and it would not lay down. I had to abandon it mid-project, level sand and go back to Target's EM8000cv to get an acceptable result. I later tried some GF Extender in it and it helped, but by that time, the ship had sailed. Actually, it was a kitchen "continent" (island top)...

[John TenEyck]

Scott, aren't you using an AAA spray rig? I know you have lauded how nice Kem Aqua Plus is, but my results were consistent with Jim's; just about impossible to spray well with our HVLP guns. I couldn't get it to flow out for beans until I finally added 3 - 4% of GF's Extender to it. Wow, what a difference. It almost became my favorite thing to spray after I did that. But out of the can it doesn't play friendly with a common HVLP gun.

John

[Scott Holmes]

Yes, I use an Air Assisted Airless. I have used the Kem-Aqua Plus with my other sprayers and I don't have any trouble. I usually thin it 3-5% with the SW reducer. Last project was bathroom cabinets for my house... wife picked the color; SW mixed it up to the color she wanted... done and done.

[John TenEyck]

Yes, I use an Air Assisted Airless. I have used the Kem-Aqua Plus with my other sprayers and I don't have any trouble. I usually thin it 3-5% with the SW reducer. Last project was bathroom cabinets for my house... wife picked the color; SW mixed it up to the color she wanted... done and done.

That's consistent with what I found by adding 3 - 4% of GF's Extender.

John

[Jerrod Lollis]

Thank you guys very much for all your help. I think I’m going to give the Chem Aqua Plus a shot on this job. One final question though. I don’t really have anything that I typically use to compare this to, but what is the approximate coverage for this product? More specifically, can you give me a really rough idea of how many linear feet of basic cabinets that a gallon will cover? The leadtime at my SW industrial coatings branch is about five days for the color match. So, I have to make sure I order enough but certainly don’t want 3 gallons left over because it’s certainly not cheap. Thanks you again everyone.

[Tony Joyce]

Thanks so much for the help. I’m going to go ahead and apologize in advance because I’m going to ask you some follow up questions that are probably way more complicated than what I’m expecting. I’m planing on using a Sherwin-Williams product, not for financial reasons, but because I have a good working relationship and I’m confident I will get better service, attention etc., unless their products in this area don’t hold up. That being said, I’m including a link to their website showing all of their “cabinet grade finishes”. How do the products you mentioned in your previous post equate to what Sherwin-Williams has? I understand your concern had to do with the VOCs of lacquer and the sorts. What type of product should I be looking for? Nitro cellulose? acrylic polyurethane? Basically, I am trying to find a product that will give me a finish as close to factory sprayed as I can achieve in the field. Thanks so much for the help.

https://industrial.sherwin-williams.com/content/sherwin-williams/pcg/industrial-sw-com/na/us/en/industrial-wood/catalog/category/products-by-industry/kitchen-cabinetry/pigmented-wood-topcoats.10656726.html

Interesting think about the Sherwin Williams web site. It's almost impossible to find the products or info on the items I use. But i do love their products and service.

That said, I have over forty years experience finishing cabinets and furniture. New only, I don't do any refinishing. I probably use about a 100 gallons of product a year(semi-retired). I've only been using SW products for the last 10-15 years. Previously I used small independent suppliers. No consistency in products. In this area(Piedmont NC) we have about three local branches(less than 50 miles away) that specialize in cabinet & furniture finish products. My local branch is 30 miles away. I text my salesman my order sometimes I pickup or they deliver. One of my favorite things about SW is they will color match any color for no extra cost. Pricing seems very competitive and reasonable.

The products I use are listed below. They may or may not work well for you. I'm pretty sure they are all KCMA approved.
The only minor issues(over 1 yr out) we have had are customer related(water abuse).

Clears:
T77F38 Pre-cat lacquer
T75F18 CAB-Acrylic
Colors & white:
P65W4 Vinyl Primer Surfacer (fills and sands extremely well)
P63W2 White Vinyl Sealer for white & color matches

White and colored primers are top coated with clears.

My experiences and my opinions, yours may vary.

[John TenEyck]

Sherwin Williams has a pretty easy to use product search function. These all are in the Industrial Wood Coatings section:


T77F38 Percat lacquer: https://industrial.sherwin-williams....type=datasheet

T75F18 CAB-Acrylic: https://industrial.sherwin-williams....type=datasheet

P65W4 Vinyl Primer Surfacer: https://industrial.sherwin-williams....type=datasheet

P63W2: https://industrial.sherwin-williams....type=datasheet


John

[Tony Joyce]

Search functions for these products must have been added in the last couple of months. It has not worked in the past.

[Jerrod Lollis]

For those using the Chem Aqua Plus, can this be tinted? I’ve been researching on their website and can’t find anything about it being tinted a color other than the white that it comes in. The cabinets I’m prepping now are going to be gray.

[Jim Becker]

Not Chem Aqua Plus...Target EM6500 tinted to Benjamin Moore steel grey on the uppers...top coated with EM8000cv.

[Frank Drackman]

Chem Aqua Plus can be tinted. My local SW would only tint gallons.

I switched to Target Coatings line of products. I'm very happy.

[Scott Holmes]

Here's the product I'm talking about:

*Available PDF downloads (1.1 - 2.4 MB)

Product Name	Product Number	Sheen
SHER-WOOD® Kem Aqua Plus Clear	T75C555	Gloss	SDS	EDS	PDS
SHER-WOOD® Kem Aqua Plus Clear	T75F556	Bright Rubbed Effect	SDS	EDS	PDS
SHER-WOOD® Kem Aqua Plus Clear	T75F557	Medium Rubbed Effect	SDS	EDS	PDS

You should also pick up the SW retarder They also have a "Dull Rubbed Effect" which is my favorite