How to Change the Color of an Arborite Counter
- 1). Understand that Arborite is just one brand name for a plastic laminate material commonly used for counter tops. Similar products are Formica, Nevermar and Wilson Art and all can be painted with Melamine paint.
- 2). Clear everything off your counter, then wash it with detergent and warm water. Be sure to get into the crevices around the edge of the sink and where the counter meets the wall.
- 3). Dry the counter, then clean it with denatured alcohol to be sure you have removed any traces of grease that might be left on the surface.
- 4). Roughen the entire countertop surface using either your 120-grit sandpaper or steel wool. Press lightly; you just want to rough up the surface to provide a "tooth" for the primer. After sanding, use a damp cloth or tack cloth to remove the sanding dust.
- 5). Use your painters tape and carefully tape around the walls and edge of the sink so no primer or paint will get on them. Be sure to press the tape edges down firmly so that nothing will seep under the tape.
- 6). Prime the entire surface using your oil-based primer. Start by "cutting in" around the edges with a brush, then fill in the the entire surface using a short nap roller.
- 7). Allow the primer to dry, then using your 220-grit sandpaper, give the surface another light sanding. Now once again, remove all the sanding dust with a tack cloth or damp cloth.
- 8). Give your counter its first coat of Melamine paint, using the same process, first cutting in along the edges, then filling in with a roller. It's best to give the counter a number of coats of paint-at least two or three (sanding in between with your 220-grit sandpaper), rather than trying to apply only one thick coat.
- 9). After the final coat of Melamine paint has dried, lightly sand it and wipe it to get rid of any dust before applying the first coat of marine varnish. You want to follow the same process as with the paint: apply the varnish, allow it to dry, sand it lightly, then apply the next coat.
- 10
Apply three coats of marine varnish to be sure your new surface is protected. - 11
Wait a couple of days before using your newly recolored counters to be sure the marine varnish has dried and will be able to protect your new paint.
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