Question
I really don't do re-finishing normally, but a good client who I'm doing several other projects for has asked me to do a half kitchen’s worth of Kraft Maid doors. They're currently an evergreen color paint – I’m guessing a simple post cat finish? The faces and edges are easy enough to sand down to pretty much bare wood. It's the panels that are going to be tough. The primer must be tinted to match as it goes from green to bare wood. How much finish do I need to remove to insure a good bond? I'll be priming with MLC's Clawlock and then topcoating with two coats of Resistant. If I get a good scratch pattern in the previous finish is that enough? Or do I really need to try and get all the topcoat off?
Forum Responses
(Finishing Forum)
From contributor U:
Personally I would just scuff the existing finish, prime white, and scuff and topcoat with Resistance. I would try it on the back of a drawer front first to make sure the finishes are compatible with each other.
Now, as there may still be contaminates lurking here or there lay down a relatively thin (reduce maybe 75-100%) coat of Clawlock. A covering coat is ok, just don't bury it as you may get fisheyes which tells one of the presence of silicones, grease, etc. If no fisheyes are present scuff 320 and re-coat until white - normal reduction if you like but no excessive mils as the surface has already been prepped by Kraft Maid, yes? If fisheyes, cut the area clean to the wood, redo with a damp rag with denatured alcohol and lightly spot prime again until white. If fish eyes persist it's time for fisheye remover. Repeat the above and when you spot re-prime add the fisheye remover. Throughout the rest of the finishing process keep on using the fisheye remover. Afterwards, thoroughly clean your system to remove any fisheye residue as it in itself is a silicone based product. Be clean and thorough and you shouldn't have a contamination issue. I've done it enough times - using cup guns as well as pressure pots and have had no contaminant issues. Remember to keep your overall mils to a minimum!
