After reading several posts regarding the best process for repainting kitchen cabinets I settled on Using Zinsser Bullseye 1-2-3 as a primer and SW Pro Classic. What I read said to prep/clean surfaces with TSP, (which I got in powder form) but the can of Bullseye says to use an ammonia based cleaner (or just a tack-cloth) or the like and specifically says NOT to use TSP. Any thoughts? Not sure if the TSP will hurt the adhesion of the primer to the oil on there now? I'm afraid to ignore the manufacture’s suggestion , then again, I'm afraid to skip that step since I don't trust that it will adhere without proper prep.

Thanks for any advice!

 

TSP has had some issues about leaving a residue which will hamper adhesion in certain paints. I have never had it happen to me personally. But I'm a sucker for reading the instructions every time too. If the cabinets are in good shape, just sand them down, and remove all the dust with a tack cloth. The TSP is mainly for dirt and grease, so if they are pretty clean, its safe to skip that step.

 

Hi, first time here!

Regarding this, I bought the same primer for my bedrooms and hallways. Being a rookie to all this, my neighbour suggested that Bullseye 123 is the way to go, no matter the paint job.

For regular walls, before using this primer, then, what should be used to clean them? TSP or ammonia? (Is ammonia just the window cleaner?)

Thank you for your patience.

 

Hi and welcome to DIY forums
I hope we can help
Why are you priming the bedrooms and hallway?
Are you sure it needs it?
I would use the ammonia as per Bullseye 123 instructions
But I sure wouldn't want to clean a few bedrooms with it
Some window cleaners use ammonia as an ingredient
You would want to use just ammonia, not a window cleaner

 

Tsp is good, but I like Soilax Pro --available in some, not all paint stores [not the depot] It requires no rinsing and cleans great[emulsifies dirt on contact].Tsp substitute requires no rinsing too, but the Soilax Pro is just sooo handy for cleaning most thing around the house.

If the walls are already painted I wouldn't prime unless a drastic color change was on the agenda or you were going over paint with a gloss or semi-gloss finish,which is where 123 excells.Tinting the primer toward the finish color is a good idea.

 

Thank you guys for the help, and yes, it really did help.

Firstly, why is that you wouldn't want to clean the bedrooms with it, slickshift? Any particular reason? The only reason I want to clean is because the thousands of painting guides that I consulted, all of them recommend 'cleaning' the walls before priming/painting. Most of these guides recommended TSP, but I fell into a dilemma when I read the 123 label. Besides ammonia, then, what other options work?

Secondly, you asked if I'm sure I need priming to be done. The truth is, no, I'm not. I decided to prime only those areas in the house where the surface is glossy (I think the previous coats were melamine/semi-gloss). And in one other room, where although the paint is flat, it is light green colour (new paint colour is light creamish brown)--so as to prevent any bleeding. Other then that, the previous house owners left the house all in one paint--flat! (yes including trims and doors!!!), so I was not about to prime those surfaces. Just sand/clean/paint.

Am I on the right track?

Thank you for your patience.

 

The smell
These should be sanded
After sanding they shouldn't need more than just a wipedown with a tackcloth to remove the dust
Believe it or not the light green and the creamy brown are pretty close
At least they closer than white and creamy browm
Personally I would not prime this one either
(unless it's a "Hello-look-at-me-I'm-really-green" green)
Two coats of good quality paint should cover it no problem

 

Alright slickshift, thanks for your respone.

I guess I will just sand the walls down, then just clean the wall of dust/particles, and paint 2 coats sans primer and TSP and ammonia.



Thanks for all your help guys!