Hello,

I'm looking for some advice on finishing maple kitchen cabinets. There will
be no stain applied to the material -- just a clear finish is what I'm
looking for.

In the past, I've sprayed on poly, brushed it, wiped it on, brushed on
shellac and varnish. I've also hand rubbed a finish using pumice and
rottenstone on a curved staircase I built. The hand-rubbed finish was by
far the most beautiful, but, of course, the most labor intensive. I'm not
sure I want to go through that again any time soon, especially on a bunch of
cabinet doors with lots of little crevices and bead details.

I don't care for brush marks and the reason I haven't spray finished in a
while is that I got tired of dealing with the runs and drips. I do like the
uniform spray look when everything works out, however. I've been relatively
happy with the results of the wipe-on poly given the simplicity of its
application and dry time. It seems to level out pretty well before it
dries, but I feel I could do better.

When my father used to remodel kitchens for a living years ago, he said many
cabinets were finished with lacquer. Is that still the case today? I guess
I'm looking for a combination of simplicity, durability and beauty if that's
achievable. If I can't find simple, I'm willing to go through the work to
get the other two.

Would love to hear your opinions...Links to sites you know or just your own
knowledge/experience would be great.

tia

-m

Mike Pio wrote:

Hello,

I'm looking for some advice on finishing maple kitchen cabinets. There will
be no stain applied to the material -- just a clear finish is what I'm
looking for.

In the past, I've sprayed on poly, brushed it, wiped it on, brushed on
shellac and varnish. I've also hand rubbed a finish using pumice and
rottenstone on a curved staircase I built. The hand-rubbed finish was by
far the most beautiful, but, of course, the most labor intensive. I'm not
sure I want to go through that again any time soon, especially on a bunch of
cabinet doors with lots of little crevices and bead details.

I don't care for brush marks and the reason I haven't spray finished in a
while is that I got tired of dealing with the runs and drips. I do like the
uniform spray look when everything works out, however. I've been relatively
happy with the results of the wipe-on poly given the simplicity of its
application and dry time. It seems to level out pretty well before it
dries, but I feel I could do better.

When my father used to remodel kitchens for a living years ago, he said many
cabinets were finished with lacquer. Is that still the case today? I guess
I'm looking for a combination of simplicity, durability and beauty if that's
achievable. If I can't find simple, I'm willing to go through the work to
get the other two.

Would love to hear your opinions...Links to sites you know or just your own
knowledge/experience would be great.

tia

-m


look into:

Conversion Varnish
Catalyzed Laquer
Water borne finishes with Crosslinker (such as Enduro coatings)

and there's always polyurethane...

Dave

I guess it's dependant on the luster of the finish that you desire. As
natural even wax would work, but the Wipe on poly is best for advancing to a
later step. Meaning you can always spray over the wipe on for greater shine
and a little more depth.


"Mike Pio" wrote in message
news:l1Baf.65509$WR2.43274@fed1read03...
Hello,

I'm looking for some advice on finishing maple kitchen cabinets. There
will
be no stain applied to the material -- just a clear finish is what I'm
looking for.

In the past, I've sprayed on poly, brushed it, wiped it on, brushed on
shellac and varnish. I've also hand rubbed a finish using pumice and
rottenstone on a curved staircase I built. The hand-rubbed finish was by
far the most beautiful, but, of course, the most labor intensive. I'm not
sure I want to go through that again any time soon, especially on a bunch
of
cabinet doors with lots of little crevices and bead details.

I don't care for brush marks and the reason I haven't spray finished in a
while is that I got tired of dealing with the runs and drips. I do like
the
uniform spray look when everything works out, however. I've been
relatively
happy with the results of the wipe-on poly given the simplicity of its
application and dry time. It seems to level out pretty well before it
dries, but I feel I could do better.

When my father used to remodel kitchens for a living years ago, he said
many
cabinets were finished with lacquer. Is that still the case today? I
guess
I'm looking for a combination of simplicity, durability and beauty if
that's
achievable. If I can't find simple, I'm willing to go through the work to
get the other two.

Would love to hear your opinions...Links to sites you know or just your
own
knowledge/experience would be great.

tia

-m

David wrote in
:

Mike Pio wrote:

Hello,

I'm looking for some advice on finishing maple kitchen cabinets.
snip

Would love to hear your opinions...Links to sites you know or just
your own knowledge/experience would be great.

look into:

Conversion Varnish
Catalyzed Laquer
Water borne finishes with Crosslinker (such as Enduro coatings)

and there's always polyurethane...

Dave


Or wiping varnish. I just did a bathroom vanity and closet system in
McCloskey's, thinned about 30% with VMP naptha.

Patriarch,
who hates spraying if it can be avoided...

Mike Pio said:

Hello,

I'm looking for some advice on finishing maple kitchen cabinets. There will
be no stain applied to the material -- just a clear finish is what I'm
looking for.

Sprayed finishes are nice, but take a bit of practice to master -
along with suitable equipment and work area. I've got a gun, but
don't use it often due to the smell and over spray.

Poly looks terrible brushed, and tends to get trapped air pockets when
a foam brush is used. Diluted poly and a wiping rag, by far, give the
hardest, best looking finish - and it's pretty tough stuff. Good
water resistance.

Lacquer, I use on shop jigs and such. Dries really fast, and it's got
the fumes to prove it. And it, too, seems to prefer being sprayed.
It doesn't seem to me to be quite as good at water resistance.

Also, kudos on the non-stained maple. I never have understood why
anyone would build something out of maple, and then slather it with a
dark artificial colored stain - unless it had REALLY offensive grain.

FWIW,

Greg G.

On Thu, 3 Nov 2005 21:00:44 -0700, "Mike Pio"
wrote:

Hello,

I'm looking for some advice on finishing maple kitchen cabinets. There will
be no stain applied to the material -- just a clear finish is what I'm
looking for.

In the past, I've sprayed on poly, brushed it, wiped it on, brushed on
shellac and varnish. I've also hand rubbed a finish using pumice and
rottenstone on a curved staircase I built. The hand-rubbed finish was by
far the most beautiful, but, of course, the most labor intensive. I'm not
sure I want to go through that again any time soon, especially on a bunch of
cabinet doors with lots of little crevices and bead details.

I don't care for brush marks and the reason I haven't spray finished in a
while is that I got tired of dealing with the runs and drips. I do like the
uniform spray look when everything works out, however. I've been relatively
happy with the results of the wipe-on poly given the simplicity of its
application and dry time. It seems to level out pretty well before it
dries, but I feel I could do better.

When my father used to remodel kitchens for a living years ago, he said many
cabinets were finished with lacquer. Is that still the case today? I guess
I'm looking for a combination of simplicity, durability and beauty if that's
achievable. If I can't find simple, I'm willing to go through the work to
get the other two.

Would love to hear your opinions...Links to sites you know or just your own
knowledge/experience would be great.

tia

-m



laquer sounds like a good choice for you. sprayed in thin coats with a
quality spray gun you can avoid runs and the coats will burn in to
each other.

"Mike Pio" wrote in message

Would love to hear your opinions...Links to sites you know or just your
own
knowledge/experience would be great.

Sprayed lacquer on the vertical components of kitchen cabinets is pretty
much an 'industry standard' .... it looks good and is durable in a high
traffic area.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 10/22/05

i have to suggest water-based lacquer, specifically from Target
Coatings. the USL product is superb. if you have the ability to spray,
get some emtech vinyl sealer (also water based), throw down a coat of
that, and then multiple coats of USL. the stuff sprays like a dream,
looks great, and is *hard*.

good luck.

---- dz


Mike Pio wrote:
Hello,

I'm looking for some advice on finishing maple kitchen cabinets. There will
be no stain applied to the material -- just a clear finish is what I'm
looking for.

In the past, I've sprayed on poly, brushed it, wiped it on, brushed on
shellac and varnish. I've also hand rubbed a finish using pumice and
rottenstone on a curved staircase I built. The hand-rubbed finish was by
far the most beautiful, but, of course, the most labor intensive. I'm not
sure I want to go through that again any time soon, especially on a bunch of
cabinet doors with lots of little crevices and bead details.

I don't care for brush marks and the reason I haven't spray finished in a
while is that I got tired of dealing with the runs and drips. I do like the
uniform spray look when everything works out, however. I've been relatively
happy with the results of the wipe-on poly given the simplicity of its
application and dry time. It seems to level out pretty well before it
dries, but I feel I could do better.

When my father used to remodel kitchens for a living years ago, he said many
cabinets were finished with lacquer. Is that still the case today? I guess
I'm looking for a combination of simplicity, durability and beauty if that's
achievable. If I can't find simple, I'm willing to go through the work to
get the other two.

Would love to hear your opinions...Links to sites you know or just your own
knowledge/experience would be great.

tia

-m

On Thu, 3 Nov 2005 21:00:44 -0700, with neither quill nor qualm, "Mike
Pio" quickly quoth:

Hello,

I'm looking for some advice on finishing maple kitchen cabinets. There will
be no stain applied to the material -- just a clear finish is what I'm
looking for.

In the past, I've sprayed on poly, brushed it, wiped it on, brushed on
shellac and varnish. I've also hand rubbed a finish using pumice and
rottenstone on a curved staircase I built. The hand-rubbed finish was by
far the most beautiful, but, of course, the most labor intensive. I'm not
sure I want to go through that again any time soon, especially on a bunch of
cabinet doors with lots of little crevices and bead details.

I don't care for brush marks and the reason I haven't spray finished in a
while is that I got tired of dealing with the runs and drips. I do like the
uniform spray look when everything works out, however. I've been relatively
happy with the results of the wipe-on poly given the simplicity of its
application and dry time. It seems to level out pretty well before it
dries, but I feel I could do better.

Wipe on 4 or 5 coats of Waterlox, Mike. It's quick, simple, and
repairs easily. The varnish and tung oil in it will give you all the
moisture resistance you need, and both are tough enough to be wiped
clean daily (if your SWMBO should be so inclined.)

I had used several very thin brushed coats of Varathane on my first
cabinet remodel several decades ago and it turned out way overkill.
That was the last time I used poly.

-
Don't be a possum on the Information Superhighway of life.
----
http://diversify.com Dynamic Database-Driven Websites

Larry Jaques wrote:
On Thu, 3 Nov 2005 21:00:44 -0700, with neither quill nor qualm, "Mike
Pio" quickly quoth:


Hello,


Wipe on 4 or 5 coats of Waterlox, Mike. It's quick, simple, and
repairs easily. The varnish and tung oil in it will give you all the
moisture resistance you need, and both are tough enough to be wiped
clean daily (if your SWMBO should be so inclined.)


You'd apply Waterlox to a submarine. There are other finishes that are
appropriate to the OP's needs.

Dave