Frustrating trip to the paint store (and internet vs real life)

16 years ago

Argh! That was annoying! I just got back from the local paint store.

I'm restoring a 1929 kitchen, and I have a combination of heavily painted, smelly (but adorable!) 80 year old cabinetry, new reproduction unfinished cabinetry, and bondo-repaired wood areas. It all needs to be primed and painted (some by me, but hopefully mostly by a pro). Right now, I mainly just want to prime inside the new unfinished cabinetry (b/c counters come tomorrow, and with counters, it is harder to reach in there). Then a pro can do the rest...

Sooooo, given my variety of "surface needs", and the positive reviews, I decided to get a gallon of the Zinsser BIN (and use disposable rollers inside the cabinets). The guy nixed this plan (b/c he thinks BIN should be handled by pros only), and gave me the Zinsser oil primer instead. Ok fine. He tried to talk me into the water based 1-2-3, but I said I was uncomfortable using that on raw wood (and it is very soft wood too!). He got the first of "the look" when I rejected the 1-2-3. You know that look? That "this lady is crazy to disagree with me" look?

He asked what paint I'd ultimately be using. I said I didn't know, but had heard very good things about Cabinet Coat. He gave me another look, and said "What is that??" I said, "You've never heard of Cabinet Coat?" He actually snickered. No, he'd never heard of such a thing. And he's heard of everything. Lots of eye rolling. (Did I call it by the wrong name???)

He recommended oil for the cabinets, and I asked for painter rec's (and got a few). As for the brand of paint, he basically said to leave that up to the painter.

Not a good experience. Not sure if I want to keep doing business there (though I really like to shop locally, and this is the only local place I can get BM paint).

What do you think of his opinions re: primer, and Cabinet Coat?

Francy

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Comments (10)

bayareafrancy
Original Author
16 years ago
Got big eye rolls when I mentioned learning about paint products from internet forums. I'm used to those eye rolls. I get those in different venues whenever I mention the internet. *sigh* Why do people feel so threatened by customers with a hint of knowledge?

Francy
bubbamommie
16 years ago
Is this guy the only person available at the store? Maybe seek out another person to assist you next time. I know what you mean about buying local, I try to do that with our regional paint store but they just don't have the stuff I need.

The last time I bought paint it was a dark red color and I was aware - thru the internet - of what the process was going to be like. So the paint mixer guy asks me "Have you painted with red before" I said no but I know what I need to do and I'm sure I'll be fine. He gives me one of those "okay, good luck" cocky looks like I didn't have a clue.
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Faron79
16 years ago
BAFrancy & Bubbam,

Good grief!!...I wish you two could come to ND to our store!!

We've had Cabinet-Coat for YEARS! We're an ACE store. MOST ACE stores can get CC, but some may be Gun-shy if they've never had it. Minimum order is 2 gallons.

* On a similiar note, ACE just came out with their version of CC, called "ACE Cabinet, Door & Trim" paint.
* The big win with the ACE is that it's 50-State VOC-legal right out of the gate.
* Both CC & the ACE clean up with soap & water.
* The ACE is tintable to 98% of the normal ACE colors, although there's no "Red or Yellow-Base" in this new line.
* Both have Alkyd & Latex resins..."Hybrids" if you will!

>>> Myself & others have posted lots about CC & the new
ACE version on this forum.

>>> I grinned pretty wide when you referenced the BIN primer comment!! We sell a lot of BIN, to novice AND Pros!

>>> 123 IS a good primer on wood. Kinda smelly for a Latex, but a very good primer.
* I wouldn't use Oil anywhere on your cabs. For the smoothest look possible, you can sand your primer lightly after a longer drytime.
* An Oil PRIMER is OK, but the latexes are equal nowadays.
* There's really no advantage to Oil topcoat(s). They start to yellow as part of the natural aging/curing.
* Remove dust, and use 2 coats of CC/similiar, one day apart.

It's kinda funny...every so often, customers at our counter tell others..."Yeah, you DO need to use the Gray-primer like he said..."!!

Faron
paintguy22
16 years ago
I have only heard about Cabinet Coat on these forums. I have never seen it Ace shelves or any shelves...is it even available nationwide?
Faron79
16 years ago
Paintguy has seen this pic (I think!).

Thought I'd post it again for those who are seeking CC, or the ACE-Paints' equivalent. At least you can see proof we have it; and, that it does exist!!!...;-)

The CC & ACE stuff is in the upper-center....Gallons & Qts.
CC is the med.-blue cans. ACE's is the goldish-brown cans.

SKU#'s for them to search on ACE-net:
1318534 for ACE Gallon,
1214238 for CC-Gallon.
(there's other SKU's for the other sizes, but this will get store-personnel started.

Faron
paintguy22
16 years ago
Okay but those shelves are in North Dakota? I can't reach them from Chicago. Is Cabinet Coat sold in all Ace's or is it just a regional thing? I swear I have never seen that can of paint anywhere and I look at paint everywhere I go!
Faron79
16 years ago
Yeah, we're in Fargo.
It's funny...we're serviced out of the Wisconsin ACE-warehouse. Most upper-midwest ACE stores are. We get freight twice a week, Tuesdays & Fridays.

CC is available at "many" distribution-centers, but not all. I'll check if I can Friday.

When you're in you local ACE, give them the SKU's I posted. They can pull it up on ACE-net. If they don't stock it, many will "Special-order" it for ya. This way it'll come on their normal store-freight day, with no extra freight charge.
* This applies to the CC, and obviously the ACE-version.
* The ACE version is neat because it will tint to 98% of the ACE colors exactly. CC is kind of a "guess" using its tint-base.
* They MAY have to set up the UPC, cost & retails in their INTERNAL system, if they don't have it.
* As Michael has mentioned, CC exists at other Hardware stores too!

Faron
bayareafrancy
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the info! Our local hardware store is Ace, so maybe I'll go through them instead of the paint store.

I'll be doing the kitchen cabinets in yellow. Did I just read here that Cabinet Coat can't be tinted yellow? If so, what about going with the oil paint? Since I'm doing yellow, maybe it won't matter if oil paint yellows, right?

Or should I just hire a good painter, and trust him/her with whatever they reccommend?

Thank you!

Francy
Faron79
16 years ago
Sorry Francy (if this isn't too late?!),

Just noticed your questions-
* CC can be tinted to a "pastel" yellow using the tint-base.
* The ACE-version (see also my "Primer-pics" new thread) is tintable to DARK colors!
* As long as your yellow isn't TOO vivid, the ACE will work just fine, i.e. there's no Red & Yellow-base in the Cabinet-paint line.
* There's no valid reason to use Oils on cabinets anymore.
* These new "cabinet paints" are actually "Hybrids". They contain Acrylic & Alkyd resins that are designed as LOW-VOC.
* The ACE was 50-state VOC-legal right away at its introduction. Therefore, no need for a special version for Cali or the NE-states. The version you buy in ND is the same as for "smog-bound" southern CA!!
* Trusting Painters....hmmmm....some are pretty set in their ways (meaning, "Why would anyone use Latex?")! Some are very progressive though.
* Oils for many uses are on the way out. Can anyone say "dinosaur", or "rotary-telephone"?!?!

Faron
moonshadow
16 years ago
paintguy: Gus Bock Ace in Lansing stocks CC (as so their sister stores in Indiana where I shop ;) )

Frustrating trip to the paint store (and internet vs real life)

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bayareafrancy
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Frustrating trip to the paint store (and internet vs real life)

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bayareafrancyOriginal Author

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