Painting Formica

BOB #589

Wash surfaces with a scrubby using a strong vinegar and water mix...or just 100% vinegar. Fill any unwanted holes and such with thickened epoxy. After sanding these smooth with 60 grit, lightly sand all surfaces to be painted with 150 grit. Primer coat everything with XIM 400 PRIMER. For finishing I used Pratt & Lambert two part industrial epoxy paint for high service areas (around the galley and in the head), sides of the berths, and the beams and associated structural members. I then used Benjamin Moore Super Spec Exterior Low Lustre Latex house paint for walls, bulkheads and ceilings. All finish coats were doubled. I used a cedar wiping stain to bring the trim back to life, and top coated them with a gloss Spar varnish.

The P&L 2 part is high gloss and tough as nails, but easy to mix and use...use disposable tools for this stuff. The BM exterior latex is superior to all others for durability.. .and the low lustre gloss level isn't glaring and very cleanable. Painting is my living, the above approach is sound.

JIM HART

I just hand sanded with 180, cleaned with acetone and rolled with 2 part poly....if you do this make sure you get the rollers that don't fall apart and melt with the 2 part poly.....

Harry James

If you can get at piece that doesn't show, I would try sanding with 150 grit and use any good acrylic latex and see how it worked.

Susan G. Bryant, S/V Dawn Treader

I have successfully sanded that hideous formica with a random orbital, and put on a coat of primer and then a lovely coat of cream colored Interlux topside paint, which is easy to clean and looks great on a smooth surface. The other things I tried on other less visible parts of the formica did scuff off. Triton folks are always jamming things into small spaces so paint gets more scuffed than houses.

Don't go high gloss on the unsmooth surfaces, but do on the smooth formica ones.