Previously I asked opinions on veneer species for kitchen cabinet doors. Now my client has changed the job and I need to make new slab doors that will be painted. This would be my first at painting kitchen cabinet doors. First, I assume that to get the best result I will need to spray which is fine since I have a spray booth, but do you agree with this? Second, from checking around it looks like I need to use a very specific primer and color coat product, is that true or will a good quality primer and enamel color coat be sufficient? Some of you preferred mdf to baltic birch if they were to be veneered, but for painting is one better that the other? THanks.

Shouldn't you be asking this in the Finishing section?

Slab doors will be a good thing to learn to spray on as they well are flat and you lay them flat to spray. I would use lacquer based paint. It will give the best finish. MDF will paint the smoothest and stay flat. If you want to see a little grain through I would use MDF core maple. Either way just make sure to sand the edges good. This is give a lot better finish than baltic birch and you don't have to edge band the edges.

I thought that Lacquer based coatings on Kitchen Cabinets were a no-no due to it having no protection against water nor the ability to last very long.

Is a Poly or a Conversion Varnish or 2K coating a better choice over a Lacquer based coating ?

I agree with Robert. Lacquer based around the sink, dishwasher, stove and range hood will produce a short life finish. Especially on MDF end grain. Even Precat doesn't hold up in those locations. My personal 27 year old kitchen is a fine example of Precat failure.

Pre cat has come along way in 27 years. This is also dependent upon the paint manufacture. I good quality product from MLC or another top brand will be perfectly fine.

Lacquer has come a long way in the past 27 years, no doubt about it. Other types of coatings however have far surpassed the longevity of any Lacquer coating, be it a pre cat or a post cat.

I venture to say that any Manufacturer of a Lacquer based coating would strongly suggest against using their product in a kitchen environment.

I am preparing to do a job like this. Full kitchen with flat slab doors.

Thus far, I have only done frame-and-panel cabinet doors. Flat slab doors will be new to me.

It seems a good material to use for the doors would be pro-core, which is an MDF\Ply hybrid panel.

Planning on solid-edging the panels with 1\4" maple.

Go to "substrates" on this page to see an example:

https://www.timberproducts.com/products/panels/hardwood-plywood

As for paint, I have had good results with pigmented conversion varnish for "painted" cabinetry. Pre-cat looks good, but is not nearly as hard in my opinion.

My only concern at this point is applying conversion varnish directly over MDF. I have never done that at any large scale. Does anyone have experience? Sand to 150?

Vince, keep your eyes open for a Primer to use under the CV. There are many types available.Its also possible to tint the Primer to get closer to the final color.
Id gently sand the MDF with a fine paper, but don't over do it.

Is there a reason for the primer?

I sometimes use a catalyzed vinyl sealer under CV, is this considered primer?

The CV I use (Sherwin Williams) is self priming.

One other thing to note is that, in my experience, when CV is tinted, the sheen is lessened.

Oh;Ok then.

Pre cat lacquer is fine for kitchens, been using it for twenty years. Use a color coat made from a sealer tinted to match the color swatch, clear coat of pre cat over the top. Buy a good Kremlin spray rig and a spray booth and do it right.