Still sanding ... but now Im much happier.
I had painted one coat in one of the cabinets last night and I was disappointed with what I saw.
I had sanded as I said the cabinets to have them flush and rought up the previous paint job... everything was smooth as a baby's butt... I primed it and saw that it was kind of bumpy much like an orange peel. I though " maybe its to grip the paint and then the paint will level..."
It didnt and I was disappointed since I wanted a super smooth finish just like when you buy something from IKEA and it looks lacquered.
See the bumpyness?
Well, I researched more and from what I gathered all pros said to accomplish that super smooth finish you have to sand between all coats!
And that was my day today!
I sanded down all prime and here's the first coat of the first cabinet after sanding down the primer. I assume almost 7 hours of sanding... and I expect many more to go although the next coats I assume it will be much easier :D
Hardly any bumpiness! It looks store bought almost! It probably only needs a 320 sanding or even less with a 400 ...
Ive been sanding with a very rough grit at first...just to help to level everything... then 180 ... then 220... and finally 320.
My wife when she saw me doing everything by hand she brought me a buffer... Truth be told, I tried it and didnt like it... I dont feel as much control as manually and it also takes chunks of the paint job with it all the way down to the wood in ocasions... so I always end up going back to do it by hand...
Most likely I wont do this in the whole cabinet... so far I just sanded down the outside of the cabinets... the side up of shelves and the underside and the back panels to a certain extent.
As for the sides... they are very hard to be easily accessible since the cabinets have a face and there is barely any room to make any motions to sand it down.. I might leave the orange peel feeling there.
Im thinking of adding recessed lights to the underside of the cabinetss... what do you guys think? Recessed lights or a LED string?