Spackle or Bondo? Painting perfect kitchen cabinets

What should I use? Bondo glazing putty or spackle to fill nicks and dings. How to paint kitchen cabinets like a professional painter. Products in video available at: Paint Life Store: paintlifesupply.com
Psalm 30:4

[@renzo4296]

Thank you very much for this video, I've been painting myself for 22 years and back in the day we'd use Bondo products exclusively, we'd do two coats on all of our millwork, on our first coat we'd use red cream hardener and on our second we'd use blue cream hardener so we'd know where we were at, we'd first block sand the nail holes to concave the mushrooms from the nail guns then fill, after sanding our Bondo we'd then go over everything with lights and feel our surfaces and skim where needed with lacquer glazing putty then sand , prime, sand, vacuum, tack rag, then two coats of finish, same on cabinets. Over the years working with different journeyman painters I was introduced to different fillers, we used Crawford's exclusively and also would use Elmer's carpenter's wood filler which also has great enamel hold out. We rarely use Bond with the cream hardener anymore, only where necessary these days. Thank you so much.

[@Idahopainter]

Thanks for your thoughts

[@_SYDNA_]

Another useful product, esp. for exterior, is the solid epoxy stick (such as the J.B. Weld KwikWood etc.). It's good for small pockets, gouges, pits, etc. nail holes to quarter-sized that don't protrude too much past the surface. Doesnt shrink. In a rush (i.e. maybe it's getting cloudy but I'm under an overhang, etc.) I've even patched, waited +/- 15 minutes then primed the whole surface, to let dry and sand later because it will continue to set under the wet primer. That has worked for me anyway. Best to buy from a high volume store where it hasn't been on the shelf for months. Wait 1-10 hrs to sand; not much more. Sands down to a smooth profile with surface. When adhering to raw or previously rotted wood you'll want to prepare the surface first with a solvent based "wood restorer," then dry. Epoxy will seep in and bond well with substrate in first couple of minutes after you mash it in. Short working time. Really, really love the Crawford's vinyl spackle you showed. Reassuring to know that a seasoned professional like yourself will use that. Applies well but will roll loose out of tiny imperfections like you mentioned. Won't apply as smooth as something like drywall topping compound, but that's OK, because it sands out easily. Just overbuild and sand down. Because it's vinyl and slick after sanding I've taken to priming it with Sherwin Williams "Extreme Bond" primer, particularly under exterior use. Just for added peace of mind. Thanks for making the video!

[@gtucci21]

Do you know if there's a manufacturing date on kwikwood packaging? I can only find it in small rural hardware stores and knowing if it's past its prime is hard to tell without opening. When it's good, it's great but old tubes are impossible to work with.

[@bradeisold367]

Thanks for the video, we never stop learning. I've been using Bondo with the hardener. I didn't realize there is also the glazing product. On a side note we have been trying to expand our crew. Get a lot of guys tell me they know how to do this or that, at the end of the day it's obvious they don't know. As part of the new guy training, we suggest watching the Idaho painter on youtube. Thanks for putting out quality videos. Those who know everything can never learn anything.

[@BGuitar415]

We've used crawfords for decades and we really like the MH ready patch spackle.

[@greg3308]

MH is much better, Crawford’s drys to soft.

[@Christ-is-King-]

First comment! Merry Christmas! Chris I feel like you made this video for me. I’ve been painting for 20 years and I am still learning! Thanks

[@Idahopainter]

Glad it helps

[@JaredBallou]

Solid info as always. It would be good to see a comparison of the before and after in photos. Even better if we could see the "only spackle" finish compared to the glazed finish, to demonstrate the difference in porosity.

[@Matasky2010]

They will look the same after a few coats of paint.

[@JaredBallou]

@@Matasky2010 They may, but the point of the video was to show when to use one or the other. I have a pretty good understanding of what Chris is doing here, but a visual aid to show the size of the voids and the effects of the patching would have been helpful for those who may be watching this as novices. Just a suggestion though, I get that a five minute quick tip won't check all the boxes.

[@Idahopainter]

Very difficult to show with lighting

[@richardbanville6664]

Very good advice. Thank you.

[@Idahopainter]

Glad it was helpful!

[@taliarose6573]

Durham's wood putty. Good stuff. Use it right, because sanding it it like sanding concrete. Proven by my boss and I for 50 years and counting. Oh and Crawford's putty is good.

[@ssl3546]

if you make it too watery, it shrinks. if you make it too thick, it EXPANDS. kindof a pain in the ass.

[@JaredBallou]

Durham's lasts forever, but so do my mistakes when applying it :D

[@Idahopainter]

OK

[@Idahopainter]

Exactly

[@raymundoreyes8411]

Spacing se usa en Madera cruda despues de premier chequeas otra bes con bondo suave golpes chiquitos y golpes grandes con bondo duro como el de carro premiere otra ves donde puso bondo y lijar despues limpieza 2 capas de pintura y listo saludos

[@jiaconetti55]

I’ve done tons of level 5 finish I’ve used bondo with the mix, mix till dark red and apply, sand bondo then go over with a regular filler to even it out, bondo has always been my go to if not bondo then painters putty and crack shot

[@Idahopainter]

Nice

[@MyGuyKirby]

Glad to know the differences in Bondo. That light looks like it belongs on the truck, way bright!

[@Idahopainter]

I think so too!

[@stephenstrader1577]

Question Chris: When you’re spraying cabinets, are you using 60 or 100 mesh gun filters? I put a new 60 mesh in my gun this morning, and randomly looked on the back of the package.. Graco recommends 100 mesh for .011-.015 tips, and 60 mesh for .015-.021. I use a 60 mesh and 310 FFLP for trim, doors, and cabs, and usually only switched to a 100 mesh for really thin material. Now Graco has me wondering… what’s your opinion on that?

[@MetalsForBrunch]

Hi, Would you recommend to only fill small holes with bondo for drawers/cabinets? i'm trying swap out my old knobs for handles so do I fill in the old knob holes with bondo glazing putty only?

[@jamespremo1]

Thank you

[@irinalipelis1207]

Hi! What can I use for covering scratches from cats' paws on my window ceiling. They loved to sit there so they scratched it. Or can i just cover it with paint, the scratches are not deep but still the window ceiling is ruined. How can i fix it?

[@MidwesternYinzer]

Can I apply this over old paint? I have a built-in cabinet from the 1920s that has chipped paint that I would like to fill before repainting. Just wondering if this would bond without having to sand down to wood.

[@jiaconetti55]

And for joints wet caught fill the joint with caulk while Caulk is still wet use Crawfords over the top wait till it all drys up and lightly sand

[@Idahopainter]

Now that’s interesting

[@thefreedomcall1906]

Good stuff!

[@Idahopainter]

Thanks Stevens

[@jackwrademaker7430]

Hello Chris , use mohawk instantset glue. Works great

[@Christ-is-King-]

Where do you get it?

[@Matasky2010]

I doubt you can blend the edges of a glue patch well enough for a professional paint job.

[@jackwrademaker7430]

@@Matasky2010 wel this glue does it. Try it out for yourself. You'll see

[@Idahopainter]

Will give a try

[@jpperry2117]

When choosing between spackle and Bondo, is there a rule of thumb for the size hole you're filling? It's difficult to see the holes in the video.

[@Idahopainter]

Bondo for tiny holes

[@angelaglasscock8721]

What works best for grooves cut into cabinet doors? Mine are from the late 70s, and all have decorative grooves. Thanks!

[@Idahopainter]

Big Stretch

[@angelaglasscock8721]

@@Idahopainter do you have a video for this method? Also, I live in Louisiana, so it's pretty humid most of the year. Any tips on the process?

[@Superprettyteacher]

What about banged up corners on cabinets. Spackle or something else. I bought an older home.

[@Idahopainter]

Sand and bondo

[@Charlie9165]

I need to use something for damaged laminated cabinet door. Will regular Bondo hold up to the wear and tear of a kitchen cabinet?

[@Idahopainter]

It will

[@Charlie9165]

@@Idahopainter Thanks. I am restoring old beat up laminated cabinets by painting them. I am planning on some type of silicone to apply a bead into the decorative gold groove in the doors and that I can remove right after painting. I want to retain that groove so the cabinets won't look so plain after painting. Any suggestions besides silicone for that?

[@johnathanmilks1536]

Nice hat!

[@Idahopainter]

Thanks

[@garynolan1394]

Auto body filler is faster and works best!

[@lakona9982]

What about aqua coat

[@Idahopainter]

I use it for filling wood grain

[@lakona9982]

@@Idahopainter thank you for your response sir. My grandpa was a pro painter for 40 years . I wish he was here to help me with my questions but he passed years ago. By far the next best thing has been your channel. I am repainting my old oak cabinets. On problem I am having is the doors above the microwave/ oven. They are saturated with grease for years of cooking. I’ve tried to clean with TSP, denatured alcohol, and sanded the hell out of the wood, they still seem greasy. What should I do? Stain seal primer? 🆘

[@TheObSeRvErTheObSeRv]

Try using AUTO spray putty its like BONDO but you can use it out of a spray gun ..;-)

[@Idahopainter]

👍

[@MaydaysCustomWoodworks]

That sounds like a super solid idea. I've been in a few auto body paint shops. Their stuff is about twice as expensive as all the wood workers paint supplies. So I think that should be used as a last resort lol. But I think that should totally work. Also, a high build high quality primer should work the same as well. Either a vinyl sealer or something like a Renner high build primer.