....that is, I started an "easy" project and it ended up being way more
work than I anticipated.

Picked up a 1950's vintage (I'm guessing, from the style of the drawer
pulls and the gauge of the metal) Steelcase filing cabinet off
Craigslist for $10. I figured I'd rather "restore" an old one than pay
big bucks for a new one that wouldn't fall apart after one move (like
the one sitting under the stairs right now, eagerly awating my finishing
of this "new" one so I can send it on its way to its final reward.)

Well, I picked it up and it turns out that it'd been painted twice
before by previous owners, both times with a PAINTBRUSH. Oh well, I
figured, I'd just sand it down with some 80 grit, finish with some 120
then 240 and spray it. No such luck! the old paint is completely
resistant to my efforts, although I do not have a D/A or air compressor
which might be appropriate. I got two drawers done by stripping them
with your typical methylene chloride based paint stripper and then
scraping, steel wool, wet sand, prime, paint. Ugh. I wasn't planning
on doing this thorough a job on it, nor was I planning on using all my
primer on the filing cabinet.

Anyone see an easier way, short of continuing on as I am, and/or buying
an air compressor and a D/A? I'm guessing "no" but I figured I'd ask.

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel