Proper Procedure Of Painting A Filing Cabinet
The filing cabinet or file cabinet has the ability to hold large amounts of files even without taking too much floor space. Filing cabinets also make it very easy for the employees to categorize and store files as well as make the folders. The filing cabinet should be properly painted to enhance its life and in order to paint filling cabinets follow the steps mentioned below:
- Prepare The Cabinet: Start the painting job by preparing the surface for sanding and rust clearance if there is any by emptying the drawers as well as removing them, if possible. Wipe down the cabinet with the help of denatured alcohol and rag to clean all the surface grime.
- Sand Rusty Areas: In case there are any rusty areas then sand those areas with the 220-grit wet or dry sandpaper as this will help to flatten lumps and remove all the residue. Dissolve all the rust deposits by rubbing them using white vinegar or simple lemon juice before sanding.
- Fill Holes: Using the auto body filler fill out all the holes. Mix the filler well with the hardener according to the instructions given on the container, and then apply it with the help of a putty knife, scrape it down flat and leave it to harden. After that sand, it flat using the 150-grit wet-dry sandpaper, at last smooth it with the help of 220-grit sandpaper.
- Remove The Handles: After completing the above step now remove the handles from all the drawers or the user can cover them using painter's tape if the user doesn't want to paint the handles. Scuff down the sand to the entire cabinet, also including the drawers, using the 220-grit sandpaper to remove the existing paint if there is any.
- Ventilation: While performing job it is important to have good ventilation so either move the cabinet outside or in a room having plenty of ventilation and place the cabinet on top of old newspapers. Wear on a respirator and then spray the cabinet with the drawers with a single coat of primer. Leave the primer to dry for about an hour.
- Enamel Paint: After the primer is completely dry spray a coat of the enamel paint. If the user is planning for a multi-tone design, then this is the base coat. Let it dry completely, then scuff it with the help of 320-grit sandpaper and then spray a second coat.
- Create A Design: Let the base coat to dry completely for almost 24 hours, then with the help of painter's tape and the masking paper create a design, if desired. After covering down the parts that users don't want to paint, spray the paint on the exposed areas with a different color. Let the coat dry, then scuff it well and spray a second coat.
- Remove The Tape And Masking Paper: As soon as the second coat has dried fully which should be hard enough to touch remove the tape and masking paper.