Italian 2K poly is better than post cat Conversion Varnish is better than pre cat lacquer, or any other pre cat anything. .

@Celadon, one of the cabinet makers is using Renner water based polyurethane.

@ProSource, thank you for the input. If you had to choose between 2k poly and conversion varnish for white painted cabinets, which would you pick? The difference in price between the two is about $8000.

Renner is very good stuff. Its better than any CV any day. And anything is better than a sulky cabinet maker spitting out untruths and charging an 8K up charge for basically the same process. The first two would disqualify themselves, and If tell them why. Lies and antique technology.

@celadon, thank you.

I’m confused as to who is 8K more to upgrade to CV. It sounds like the first guy. But, that’s a big no. The chemicals and process aren’t that much different from a lacquer to charge that. That’s a Go Away price, because he doesn’t want to do something different. I’d oblige him, and go away.

Thr other guy is telling you he doesn’t know how to spray anything different either, if his “goes on thick and doesn’t look good”. He is also disqualifying himself.

If the 3rd guy is the Renner guy, then he’s the winner. As long as he isn’t the 8K upcharge guy. If he is, you’re not done weeding out the dandilions .

This is why most people pick manufactured cabinets. They are a known quantity. With a lifetime warranty.

@ProSource, you got it right. The first guy is charging $8k extra upgrading from pre-cat lacquer to conversion varnish. These are his worlds from the email he sent me “We offer acrylic modified urethane, pre-cats, and polyurethane. But I like conversion varnish personally. Good value and doesn’t yellow.” His price for the cabinets with pre-cat lacquer is $38k and $46k upgrading to conversion varnish.

The second guy is not worth talking about as he only makes the cabinets and does not offer painting. But he did offer his opinion on conversion varnish. His words were “I prefer pre-cat lacquer over conversion varnish due to varnish looking too thick.”

The third guy does ONLY Renner water based polyurethane. He said “it’s far superior to anything for painted cabinets” and that’s all he chooses to work with. His total for the cabinets is $30k.

Depending on his joinery processes, the 3rd guy runs away many lengths from the old tired guys who don’t know how to keep up with industry developments.

I am replacing cabinet doors and received some samples of conversion varnished doors. I don't really like the look or feel of the finish. I t looks like melamine. Very plastic feel.

@everpark, thank you for the input. The price does not justify the end product.