HOW TO SOTO — Finishing Cabinets

Recommended Supplies:

• Drop-cloth (we have it available in a roll of plastic and our heavy-weight canvas drop-cloth)
• Tack-cloth
• Wood filler
• Sandpaper (80, 120, and 240 grit) (or our Sanding Kit, which includes sandpaper, wood filler, and tack-cloth, all in one convenient kit)
• Mild detergent (our Shop Cleaner + Degreaser or our Multi-Surface Spray Cleaner works very well for this) or alcohol wipes
• Painter's tape
• Screwdriver or drill (to remove hardware, if necessary)
• A high-quality 2" angled, synthetic paintbrush
• 4" paint roller with a 1/4" nap (foam or non-matting polyester roller for an extremely smooth finish)
• Paint roller tray
• Soto's Interior-Exterior Premium House Paint
• Polyurethane (optional for desired level of gloss)

Process:

1. Use a drop-cloth or painter's plastic to protect the floor and other nearby areas.
2. It's best to remove as much as you can before painting -- empty the cabinet(s), and remove any doors, drawers, and shelves, as well as any handles, knobs, or hinges. If you can't remove them, cover with painter's tape to protect from unwanted paint.
3. Prep the surface:
   1. Clean the surface with a mild detergent, or use an alcohol wipe, to remove any grease, grime, or oil accumulation (especially in the kitchen), or dust, dirt, or other residue.
   2. Remove any flaking or chipped paint.
   3. Use wood filler to fill in any nicks, holes, gouges, or scratches.
   4. Sand the surface: Always sand in the direction of the grain, and sand in straight lines. 
      • For new / never-painted surfaces: gently sand the area starting with 80-grit, followed by 120-grit, then 240-grit. Vacuum and/or wipe away dust with tack cloth after each sanding.
      • For previously painted surfaces: Lightly sand the surface with 240-grit sandpaper to smooth out the surface. This will remove any old sheen/gloss and will create a new surface for the paint to grip better. It also prevents delamination, and it will smooth out imperfections to allow for the smoothest finish possible.
   5. Vacuum and/or use a tack cloth to remove the sanding dust after the final sanding and before painting.
4. To paint:
   1. Place the doors, drawers, etc. horizontally to reduce drips (you may want to place them on sawhorses or a table -- make sure you protect your surfaces with a drop-cloth, to avoid unwanted paint on your table, floors, etc.). The paint is ultra-low VOC so you can paint indoors. In fact, it is preferred to paint inside and not outside because of dust and dirt that may blow or settle on your freshly painted surfaces (especially on a windy day).
   2. Use a synthetic angled brush, 1&1/2", to coat detailed areas, trim, and hard-to paint areas.
   3. Use a 4" roller frame and 1/4" nap for the rails and flat surfaces.
   4. Paint the back of the doors first and let them dry for at least one hour, then you can turn them over and paint the front.
   5. For all surfaces, do one light coat, allow to dry for 2-4 hours, then lightly scuff with 240-grit sandpaper, remove sanding dust with tack cloth (or vacuum) and follow with a second coat.
   6. Allow to dry for at least 24 hours before reattaching hardware.

The longer the paint dries, the stronger and more durable the finished paint will be. Let dry for 1-2 weeks before scrubbing or using any harsh chemicals, to allow for full curing and the strongest finish.

Soto's Premium All-In-One House Paint is interior-exterior so it's durable enough to be left as-is, but our paint is flat matte, so there will be no gloss.  If you want a glossy sheen like an eggshell or satin, you may want to finish with a polyurethane clear-coat. A water-based spray clear-coat will deliver an extremely smooth finish, and also will give the desired sheen.