Reparationstips för ett Gammalt slitet kabinett.

I just repainted the front of a cabinet from a 42 year old P/B (Foto Finish).
The paint had a lot of bare spots, & was also flaking.
I sanded the paint to bare wood, & then sprayed it with a ton of enamel, then clear coat.
The problem is, that part of the wood grain lifted up..just like # 100 sand paper; rough as a cobb.
Is there a product I should have first used, to Seal the wood, before painting?

Of course after sanding you should have used a sanding sealer to lessen grain lifting when you applied paint.
What kind of sealer may depend on what paint you'll use over it.
Paint store should be able to guide you.

LTG :) Yep, I would have used a wood sealer first.
But since you didn't, I think if you sand the rough spots lightly with some fine paper, then shoot another light coat of clear.
It should look fine after that.

-S (CARGPB1) Ed, I would have suggested the following: Sand cab with rough grain paper (60) to remove old paint.
Sand with 150 to smooth.
Finish with 100 or 220.
Wood glue any loose pieces.
Spray a coat of primer.
Knock off the bumps with 100.
Spray 1st coat.
Sand with 220.
Spray second coat.
If applying clear, sand with 600.
Spray clear.
Repeat until desired finish is attained.
If you sand a cabinet like that, you will see the white layer underneath.
I prime the cabinet with white and spray on a white base coat.
Some cabinets have sucked up two or more base coats before sealing up.
It is well worth the cost of the paint.
Clean the sides of the cabinet with Mean Green.
This will take the crap off, and the yellow tabacco and other stains off.
This is *important*! Because you will be matching the front of the cabinet color to the sides, you want the sides to be as clean and crap-free as possible.
1. Fill any defects in the wood. I personally like body filler, as it dries fast. Wood filler works too, but it's acetone based, and takes 24 hours to dry in most cases.
2. After you have the cab wood BLOCK sanded (100 grit, 150 grit, 220, 320 grit), WET the wood with a sponge and some water. Don't soak it, just wet it. Let it dry. This will "raise the grain". Now sand it flat with 320 grit. This will minimize the amount of grain raise you get with paint. After sanding, wipe the area down with Naptha.
3. Use a primer or a sanding sealer. Personally, I like sanding sealer better (because it's clear). But they don't really sell it in spray cans. But after 2 coats of primer or sealer, and letting it fully dry, you can determine if you want to sand it GENTLY with some 400 grit to smooth it out or not (usually it's a good idea). I personally like the Krylon white primer.
3. Apply the color coat. LESS IS MORE. The more paint you put on, the WORSE it will be. ALL the game makers used as little paint as possible. Why? because it costs less, looks better, and dries faster! You should do the same. Apply just enough color to cover. Again, I like the Krylon brand. They have two colors that are "just right" for most Gottlieb front cabinet paint jobs ("Antique White" which is more yellowish, or "Ivory" which is just slightly yellowish). Apply "wet coats" of paint. That is, have the spray close to the wood, and don't move too fast. Practice makes perfect. No more than 2 color coats on a primed/sealed surface is needed. Also, have the cabinet on it's "butt" so the painted surface is level. This will eliminate the possibility of any paint runs! Having paint too thick provides a couple problems: first, it doesn't look original. Second, it will chip *easier*. This is very important on the front of a cabinet! Because the coin door will 'compress' the paint. If the paint is too thick, it will chip around the edges of the coin door.
4. Gottlieb, Williams, Genco, United, or just about anybody pinball didn't use a clear coat. Why are you? I mean don't you want the front of the cabinet to match the rest of the game? The rest of the game isn't clear coated! 5. Do the "splatter". Your Foto Finish is a wedgehead, right? If so, it should have a silver splatter applied. Woodrails didn't use the splatter, but wedgeheads did. Foto Finish came in both flavors I believe. So use your judgement on this one.