Hi there,

I've used the person that Sarah uses here in Toronto...

This particular business is 'Benjamen Refinishing'.
I've had chairs and some cabinets sprayed by him.
(and the prices have gone up in past couple of years! Lots of the Designers in the TO use him)

Lisa

I've heard that automotive painters will spray paint furniture (or almost anything). Haven't tried it yet but have some metal fencing I want to have done. Depends on the cost, otherwise I can paint it myself with a brush altho will take time.

I'm sure in large cities there are other businesses that have paint booths for professional spray painting. We once bought an antique piano from a company that did this.

I have had our local auto body guy spray paint my old kitchen cabinet doors, entertainment/bookcase doors, and the dining room buffet. Still need to pick the paint color for the dining room chairs.

He has been pretty reasonable but I must say that it is on his time frame - when he has the room and time ( the cleanup is time consuming). I think the buffet was quite a few months but I didn't keep at him and understood he was waiting to get more furniture in to make it worth his time. He has been more than willing to use whatever paint we have chosen.

The work is very good, the price is good and I like using the small businesses in our small town. I do know that not all auto repair shops take this on so ask around.

Chris

We had something sprayed by a local cabinet maker. Many of them spray their cabinets and will do furniture as well.

I've always wondered that too. She'll quote some amazing price, and I'll think "who does that for so cheap?"

I think she might have an easier time, because 1) she is on TV, 2) she is in Canada, 3) she is not in the urban Northeast US where by general inquiries along this line have been met with responses like "Huh?!, No." followed by "oh some @*& wanted me to spray some $*# ...." as they are hanging up.

Never occurred to me to ask the local automotive people...I'll try that! Though...I'm looking to get some old patio furniture stripped and redone, and the local body shop wasn't interested. Maybe I should call some of the shops in Raleigh or even Charlotte...

lisa mocha--thanks for the response! I meant what KIND of place...not the actual place. Toronto is a wee bit far for me...I'm in Chapel Hill, NC. ;^)

You might also ask a kitchen specialist if they have a spray booth. I know there is one locally here that does as they spray painted all our house doors.

I want to know how the painted items are holding up. We sprayed some bedroom furniture and my sister painted a dinning room set. They did not hold up. It was a very temporary "fix" at best. I too wonder when Sarah has it done where, and how long it is good for. It would sure be slick of it works.

lol-did that episode you linked in my thread spark this thought?

I love how she doesn't include the cost of labor in her prices. Sure, the vases that she made into lamps were $19, but then they spend $100 for the wiring, plus who knows what for the shades. Same for those plates they had framed. The plates were $9 each, but those custom shadowbox frames had to be at least $75 each.

Anyway! My painter will spray furniture in their workshop. I don't know how much they charge, and if it is cheaper than an automotive place. But they sprayed my kitchen cabinets for me, and mentioned that they also do furniture.

Oh, and to the poster who wondered how the painted things held up. I painted my daughter's bedroom furniture and it has held up really well. And she is 5 and quite hard on her stuff. I'm actually a bit surprised that it's still looking so good (after a year). Better than my kitchen cabinets (after 6 months). I put on several coats of poly though, so that is probably why.

In my experience, most painters have the spray equipment and can spray paint for you. Sometimes on site or taking it to their shop. Depends on what it is. You just need to ask. However, I would be real sure the piece is paint ready, ie. clean and sanded, to accept the paint and have a beautiful finished piece.

drybean--yes, the link I posted was what prompted me to post this. ;^) Great information, all! Someday I may have something to report!

I do all my own painting...but I'm sure I can find someone local who has a spray booth. I'll just have to ask around.

melanie

I was also going to say that I've seen designers (and regular folk) send things to an automotive place to be sprayed.

Furniture refinishing and repair places also spray. DH regulary has people bring things to him at the shop to spray. He sprays at least once a week.

My experience has been the same as palimpsest's. If anyone knows anyone/any place that does this in central NJ area, I'd love to get that info. I want to (eventually) have my kitchen cabinets painted. I can paint the frames, but I am just not up for painting the doors. I've done it in a bathroom (same cabinets), and there's just no way I have the patience or the time to do the kitchen. I've asked around (contractors, painters) and always get looked at like I am crazy.

mjsee: if you want to have outdoor metal furniture (or anything metal) painted, think about powder coating. We had a full set of old Martha Stewart (Kmart) furniture done last summer for $50 per chair and I think the table was $75??? They sandblasted the old finish and put the new on. I thought it was very reasonable. But call around!!!!!! We got some WILD estimates, sometimes $125 per chair.

angiedfw--that is EXACTLY what I want done...and have been unable to find. The automotive places won't touch it...where did you get yours done? I shan't be able to use the same place (I'm assuming dfw stands for dallas/fortworth) but I might get a clue as to whom I should call...

mjsee..What? You don't want to do a road trip to Toronto to have furniture sprayed, lol?? Yeah, a little bit of a haul, I guess:)

FYI, we had our chairs sprayed about 4yrs ago (Benjamen that Sarah uses)
and they've held up well. Our island stools were done at same time and there's some dings/chips in those...but I guess they take more abuse. At the time, we paid $40 per chair/ stool (incl. paint) which was well worth it.

Just before Christmas we took in 2 blanket boxes(window bench) which ended up costing $400 which I thought was far too much. Oh...let me correct this...my DH took them in and didn't ask how much and that was the bill when we picked them up. Lesson learned:) I would have done those myself had I known...
I was told staircase spindles were @ $10-15 ea to spray.

I'm sure Sarah gets a 'volume discount'! (Kinda cool to see some of the pieces in the workshop that later show up on one of her shows)

Think checking out auto-body shop is a great idea!
L.

palimpsest.. youre a crackup. Thanks for the laugh.