Catherine and others have pinged me about this fabulous aqua GE steel kitchen for sale in Fenton, Michigan. It’s also on the Postwar Steel cabinet Forum. What a ginormous set – any takers? Thanks, Catherine — and to everyone who sends me ideas for posts. I really really appreciate it!

Related posts:

1. Metal kitchen cabinets for sale on the Retro Renovation Forum – what’s new & interesting Activity on the Forum has been as busy as I...
2. Metal kitchen cabinets: An amazing set of yellow GE cabinets, Denver – now on the Postwar Steel Forum A big, fabulous set of 1956 yellow GE steel kitchen...
3. 30 photos of vintage Lyon metal kitchen cabinets – and some history on St. Charles kitchens — over on Postwar Steel Forum Be sure to see the 28 photos of a great...

Well, these are smoking hot. A few months ago I spoke to a guy in Texas who had a whole barnfull of new-old-stock steel cabinet pieces for sale. The pieces have finally made their way to ebay. There look to be both Republic and GE pieces — great “cabinettes” – in a variety of pastels. A hodge podge, I was told originally. I’ve asked for more information — for example, the inventory list — so I can get the info to Retro Renovation readers first.

Related posts:

1. Republic Steel Kitchen Cabinets salesman’s sample kit – today’s #2 ebay pick Here’s another Salesman’s Sample kit, this time for Republic Steel...
2. Geneva 50s Steel Kitchen Salesman’s Sample kit – today’s ebay pick All you Geneva steel kitchen cabinet lovers – here’s a...
3. Salesman’s sample kit for Youngstown steel 50s kitchen cabinets – today’s ebay pick I have a kit like this for Republic steel kitchen...

Nancy is a new reader from Carlisle, Mass, who wants to restore her gorgeous pink GE steel cabinets. Drool drool. I really wanted pink, but my husband (and the decorating gods) won out and we have aqua.

Here is Nancy’s question:

Hi Pam, I love your site. I’m just beginning to explore so I apologize if this is covered somewhere but I didn’t see it. I have a 1958 ranch with the original GE pink kitchen cabinets including the original double oven. The cabinets desperately need painting. The paint is completely worn away in some places. There are way too many for me to consider removing them and taking them somewhere to be painted.

It seems most people recommend either powder coating or an automative paint job for metal cabinets that need painting. I have found a company that uses an electrostatic charged enamel paint with a high gloss. They do a lot of steelcase file cabinets, desks, school lockers, etc. It seems as if that would work well for kitchen cabinets but I’m a little concerned that nobody in these forums mentions it. Any idea if this is a good way to go?

Here are a couple of pictures to take a look at. Just for fun, I included one of the original wallpaper we uncovered. Thought you might like to see it.

Thanks,

Nancy

Thanks, Nancy. Love the kitchen! Love the wallpaper! Love the brown (plastic? tile?) backsplash! Love the pinky stove top hood! I don’t know the answer to your question, though, so I’ve asked trusty Palm Springs Stephan, who knows most everything and especially how to paint metal as he is also a vintage car guy.

Before I get into his advice I do want to remind everyone to be cognizant of potential lead paint issues whenever they do renovations: Be sure to see the EPA’s complete website: http://www.epa.gov/lead/

He is the GREATEST and responded right away:

Sure, I’m happy to give this a whirl. But I am not an expert … just an “informed renovator.”

The process that Nancy describes sounds very similar to powder coating in that it involves a low-voltage electrical charge that helps paint to stick better to the metal. But from the way Nancy describes the “new” process, there do seem to be some very important differences.

As I have always understood the process of powder coating, the metal is first chemically (dipping) or mechanically (sanding) stripped absolutely bare. If Nancy’s cabinets are going to be painted in place, this process will either be minimized or skipped altogether. I would think that would have a direct effect on the final quality, probably a negative one. Proper preparation is always a huge part of any renovation process. I just don’t see how metal cabinetry in a household kitchen can be properly prepped if they are not first disassembled and removed. And the mess will be enormous!

In powder coating, the stripped metal to be painted is given a low-voltage electrical charge and a powdered pigment is dusted onto the surface. It is a dry process. The object is then heated so that the dry powdered pigment “melts” to form a smooth, glossy, and hard surface. Think of the old art-form of enameling a piece of jewelry. The process is very similar.

From what Nancy describes, the “new” process uses the same electrical charge to the metal, but the pigment is carried by liquid paint. And again because the job is being done in place without removing the cabinets, the paint will not be heat cured. This will almost certainly result in a final surface that is less smooth and less durable.

If the cabinets are removed and taken to a powder coater, it is much easier to paint both the outside and the inside of the cabinets, giving them a “new inside and out” appearance. I suspect Nancy’s “new” process will be limited to the outside of the cabinets … or if the insides are also painted, the inability to properly prep them while they are still installed may result in a poorer quality finish on the inside.

I wonder … can Nancy not arrange for a powder coating company to pick up the cabinets from her house? Or perhaps she can rent a U-Haul to take them to the powder coater?

I’ve never seen this “new” paint process used before, but I have to suspect that the likely limitations described above may well produce an end result that will not please her as much as would powder coating or even auto painting. Yes, it is a massive pain in the patootie to remove a bunch of cabinets, haul them around, and then re-install them. But as any experienced renovator can tell you, cutting corners also means cutting quality. I guess Nancy has to decide whether she is willing to risk the possibility of a less-than-perfect outcome in order to save some sweat and sore muscles. I vote for taking the cabinets out and doing it right.

Always happy to help,

Palm Springs Stephan

Thanks, Palm Springs Stephen. Hey, I have now given you your own Tag. Over the next couple of days I will go back and relabel all posts to which Palm Springs Stephan has contributed – or better said, written altogether – so fans can read up!

Meanwhile, Nancy – and Stephan – and readers – I do have one additional thought – but I am not sure of this either: Has anyone ever tried removing just the doors and having them repainted? It scares me to think the doors might not go on smoothly afterward – but perhaps another reader has tried this?

And BarbieT adds to the conversation:

Hi Pam, in reply to electrostatic painting, I read in This old house forum about some people that had their cabinets electrostaticly painted.They had them done right in their house, and it ran them about $1700.00 or $1800.00. They said the outcome was great. You just need to find some one in your area that does that kind of painting.

Thank you BT!

Related posts:

1. Garth and Martha have pro’s soda blast and electrostatically paint their vintage Crosley steel kitchen cabinets READERS GARTH AND MARTHA from Dallas recently went through the...
2. Retro kitchen paint colors from 50s to early 60s Geneva, Republic, St. Charles and Youngstown steel kitchen cabinets “Vintage_Kitchen” recently wrote to ask about repainting her 60s white...
3. Painting metal kitchen cabinets: Jay and Jamie’s Nashville condo with retro renovated Youngstown cabinets Jay and Jamie are house flippers in Nashville. I spotted...