I generally spray my paint but roll and brush my primer when painting cabinets to save the hassle of clean up in my sprayer, but you can also spray the primer. Here I'm painting the first coat of Benjamin Moore Advance on this panel we made for our kitchen.
You can either roll or brush on primer—either way will work just fine! Just make sure you do a good job of it so that all surfaces are covered and there's no bare wood exposed anywhere.
A small 4” foam roller is best for painting cabinets.
You can also easily use a small roller to smooth out most places you even used a brush to apply cabinet paint. The foam nap also gives you a smoother finish on your cabinets.
With the help of a brush, roll or spray, you can apply primer on wood. If you want to choose an easy way, go for spray primer, though it will need you to use several coats to get good coverage. Brushing will take time and need more effort but will give you a thinner and even layer of the surface.
Prime the cabinet boxes
Pour some primer into the paint tray and load the roller and brush. Using the brush along the edges and tight spots, and the roller on the large, flat surfaces, coat the cabinet, doors, and drawer fronts with a coat of primer.
Depending on what kind of primer you're using and the state of the cabinets, you will need 1-2 coats of primer. For many cabinets, one coat is plenty, but if you're uncertain, a second coat won't hurt as long as it's not applied too thick. When it comes to the actual paint, you will need at least two coats.
Primer doesn't have to look perfect. Its purpose is to cover the surface and provide a good base for the finish paint. Work on one area at a time.
The more cars you can prime with a roller and the less time you spend cleaning up, the more savings you'll accrue. The rolling of primer is dependent on the shape and contour of the vehicle. It simply won't work in certain areas, like around the fog light. It is generally recommended for smaller areas.
We usually use professional-grade lacquer because it has a lovely, silky-smooth feel to it, and is what cabinet manufacturers use. We think it's the best paint for cabinets, hands-down (although there are some great pro-level water-based options as well).
The Verdict
Overall, the foam roller provided the smoothest finish, but having to apply three coats is a bummer. The velour roller finish is *almost* as good, with minimal shedding, and covers in two coats.
Applying primer: 1-2 hours. Painting the first coat of paint: 2-4 hours. Painting the second coat of paint: 2-4 hours. Drying and curing time: 24 hours.
Airbrushing or spray can primers work well because they can cover large areas quickly and evenly. With a spray on primer, you have the advantage of priming multiple models at the same time–something you can't really do with a brush on primer.
Natural covers (mohair or lambswool) – Natural covers are best for oil-based paints or primers. If used with latex paints, the water in the paint may swell the fibers, causing them to become matted. Blended covers (polyester / wool blend) – These combine the extra pickup of wool with polyester for longer life.
Prime the Wood
Mix the primer well and apply it with a brush or roller. After drying, if the primer looks transparent or streaky on the wood, prime a second time.
It's ready to brush, roll or spray and can be topcoated after one hour with latex or oil-based paint. Use KILZ STANDARD Primer on almost all interior surfaces including wood, drywall, plaster, brick, masonry and more.
You will want to use 2-3 coats of primer to ensure there is a good bond between the new paint and the wall, and also to cover up any previous colors, especially if they are red, orange, or a strange outdated color. In short, you will typically need 2 coats of primer for most painting projects.
On a new wall, you'll want to follow the rule and apply two coats of paint after primer. Follow the same standard for drywall. If you're repainting a wall, you'll only need one coat if you're using the same color and it's a quality paint.
Paint Kitchen Cabinets
Leave the first coat to dry for at least 24 hours, then apply a second coat. If you're painting cabinets with a primer, wait an additional 24 hours before applying the second coat. Once you've painted the cabinet frames, you'll need to wait a couple of weeks for the paint to cure fully.
If you have oil based paint on your cabinetry, you must use a primer on top of oil based paint before finishing with a top coat. Skipping this step will cause your water based paint to bead up and peel off down the road. I like both Kilz bonding primer and Zinsser Oil Based primer for use on cabinetry.
A fast drying, low odor and very low VOC primer, KILZ 3® Premium provides exceptional adhesion and durability – ideal for high traffic and high touch surfaces including kitchen cabinets and drawers.