Paint before construction of units?

[arborealstudio]

Hi All,

Currently building a free standing bookcase display unit for a client. The overall length is 2.5 metres and the height is 2.2 metres. The whole bookcase is made up of four units. I'm using MR MDF which will be painted or sprayed.

Is it better to construct the units and then paint or paint the individual parts of each unit before assembly. Just looking to get an idea of the approaches other people use in the wild.

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[mailee]

Hi Eddie. I always paint before assembly if possible. I mask off the glue areas and then paint them. HTH. :wink:

 

[arborealstudio]

Hi,

Thinking of doing a partial assembly as I'm using dados for the shelving. Plan is to fit and glue the shelves to the cabinet sides, with possibly the tops and bottoms also fitted. Basically shelves installed with no front or back on the cabinets. Hoping this makes it easier to spray the insides.

Eddie

 

[MrYorke]

As mailee recommends, try and paint everything before hand and let it all dry properly. Last thing you want is to construct something and have paint runs everywhere! It also allows you to give a uniform finish as painting up to where side/top etc meet is always difficult if brushing on (less of course if spraying)