Paint question

[Starplater]

I'm going to re-paint the front portion of an Atari cabinet with an oil
based black enamel. I'm wondering what method would be best with minimum amount
of work....
Is it necessary to strip the old paint before repainting, or couldn't I just
paint over the old paint? It's not flaking or peeling.
Do I need to use a primer first?
If I leave the old paint intact, should I sand it first to roughen it up or is
that really necessary?
I don't have a lot of experience in painting so tips would be appreciated!

[ty]

Starplater wrote:

Hi there.

If you are applying new black paint over old black paint, then a primer coat is not
necessary, since the colors are the same. The main purpose of a primer coat is to
provide a smooth binding surface for the paint to adhere to, and an existing paint
layer is about as smooth as you could want, especially a factory job. So you can
go ahead and apply the new coat right over the old...provided that you don't end up
with brush marks, since oil paints can be bad for this. That's the reason why most
first paint coats are sanded, since any brush marks not smoothed out will just end
up getting thicker with each additional paint layer. At least, it has worked for
me when I have used oil paints. If possible, try a small test, if you can do this
without ruining the cabinet.

Ty

[Bret Pehrson]

Were you planning on applying the paint w/ a brush? If so, I'd strongly
recommend you change your plans. Brush application of paint is a
*major* pain to get just right without streaks, brush hairs, etc.
Further, oil based enamel is a good choice for durability, however it is
very slow drying (plan on letting it sit for several days to a week or
longer to dry, depending on your climate), and it is messy -- requires
paint thinner to clean.

Here is what I've done (and recommend) for my cabinet repainting. I've
broken it down into several different levels -- choose one depending on
how much time & $$ you want to spend.

Simple, cheap, quick (Good results if the underlying wood is smooth)
- Cost: $5 for paint, $1 for sandpaper, $3 for masking tape
- In order to do this method, there can be no raw wood showing. If
there is, when you apply the paint, the paint will cause the wood to
grain to raise.
- Lightly sand the area w/ a medium grit sandpaper (200 or so) -- this
is called 'scuffing' and creates a better surface for the paint to
adhere to.
- Wipe the surface clean w/ a *lightly* dampened cloth. Wash the cloth
and repeat.
- Mask off the area to be painted w/ masking tape and newspaper. There
should be no uncovered areas within 2 feet of the area you wish to
paint.
- Use a good quality enamel spray paint. Find a brand/can that comes
with a 'fan' tipped nozzle -- it produces better coverage and is easier
to use.
- See painting tips below
- Done

Best Results
- Cost: $3 for primer, $5 for paint, $3 for sandpaper, $3 for tack
cloth, $3 for masking tape
- Sand the area to be sanded until smooth. Fill any pits/cracks and
resand.
- Mask off the area to be painted w/ masking tape and newspaper. There
should be no uncovered areas within 2 feet of the area you wish to
paint.
- Wipe the surface clean w/ a *lightly* dampened cloth. Wash the cloth
and repeat.
- Use a tack cloth to remove dirt/dust from the surface.
- Apply a good quality spray primer to the area. Let dry and resand
the area w/ a fine grit (300) sandpaper until smooth. Repeat this step
as necessary until smooth and no raw wood is showing.
- Wipe the surface clean w/ a *lightly* dampened cloth. Wash the cloth
and repeat.
- Use a tack cloth to remove dirt/dust from the surface.
- Use a good quality enamel spray paint. Find a brand/can that comes
with a 'fan' tipped nozzle -- it produces better coverage and is easier
to use.
- See painting tips below
- Done

Painting Tips
- Avoid breathing paint fumes -- they are harmful to you health.
- Avoid painting indoors for the reasons listed above.
- If painting outside, find a place w/o wind and low dust.
- If possible, position the piece so that is is facing sky-ward
(horizontally). You can paint vertically, however you need to use
caution to avoid runs.
- When using spray paint, the technique to use to avoid overspray is to
move quickly and apply enough paint in each pass so that it will remain
wet for a minute. If it is too thin of a coat, it will dry to quickly
and you will get overspray. If it is still wet when the overspray lands
on it, it will be absorbed by the wet paint and result in a smooth
finish.
- (Overspray is the air-borne paint particles at the trailing edge of
the paint spray cone that land on an already dry (or mostly dry) area --
the result is a 'buff' texture and appearance.)
- Be careful to not use too much paint -- just enough to keep the paint
wet, but not a thick coat.
- Apply a second coat according to the instructions on the can.
Usually, this means applying a second coat within 1 hour or after 24
hours, but not in between (if you do in between, you run the risk of
causing the paint to wrinkle as it cures). Repeat this step as desired.

--
Bret Pehrson
http://www.vaps.org/members/nv/br...@classicade.com.html
mailto:bretN...@classicade.com
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