Question about painting on glass

[Stinky The Clown]

We're planning to replace the doors on our kitchen cabinets. One scheme we've been considering is back painted glass. The idea looks something like this:

We want to make a 'sandwich' of a sheet of glass and a sheet of MDF. The glass would be painted on one side. The painted side would be against the MDF. The two pieces would then be framed in aluminum or stainless steel channel and used as the door. The MDF would be drilled to hold the hinges. The glass and the MDF would both be drilled to hold the door pulls.

Two options are to use glass door frames available from Rockler. This is a pricey option and may not add all that much to the aesthetic we're looking for.

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=11050&cookietest=1

In any event, what I want to know is if anyone has any experience painting glass. The end result we want is a a nice, even, completely opaque sheet of colored glass. Back painting it will allow the color to be really shiny and deep.

[AlCzervik]

1. instead od painting couldn't you use privacy film?

http://www.decorativefilm.com/showroom.html

[Stinky The Clown]

2. I had actually thought about that but the colors don't work for us.

I need to match a specific color and the paint will have to be custom mixed. I'm still thinking I can use plain old latex wall paint, but wondered if anyone had any specific experience painting on glass with a truly opaque color. There are lots of paints for glass that all are intended to mimic stained glass. So their colors are transparent, translucent or at best, semi-opaque. I need completely opaque.

[AlCzervik]

3. what about using a polyurethane and having pigment mixed in?

[Warpy]

9. The problem will be that the paint will never quite bond

to the glass and you'll end up with a terribly fragile finish prone to chips and scratches on a material prone to breakage. If you're going to insist on something transparent that is back painted, one of the newer plastics might be a better solution. A plastic based paint might adhere a bit better.

[porter]

4. Glass Painting Maybe Yes Maybe No

There paints formulated for glass. I understand they are mostly sprayed on applications. They will not be at the big Boxes. You might get some direction from a good paint store or even a stained glass shop.

Another idea may be to seal and paint the MDF facing the glass.

[NMDemDist2]

5. here's my obligatory response

with no usable content

but hey, it'll give ya a :kick:

and we want PICS when it's done :bounce:

[Lugnut]

6. I do decorative craft painting

But I've never attempted anything so ambitious. Water-based enamels, as opposed to acrylics, are recommended for the kind of stuff I do....glassware such as vases and serving plates. How that would translate into a product that's available at a paint store is what I don't know. I would suggest that you ask at the paint store. You can't possibly be the only person who ever wanted to do this kind of application. I really wish I could be more helpful. Sorry H2S.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. Thanks for that ...... I have a question back atcha ......

You say you paint on glass. And you use water based enamels.

Is that the same as (water based, also) latex enamel?

I went to the local Sherwin Williams store, who've never, ever failed me with advice before, and this one stumped them. That said, I may try there one more time, but ask a different person. The guy who I spoke to was new to the store. The older crew are very knowledgable. Since the store's next to my grocery store, I can peek in the window and see who's there before I pop in again.

Thanks for your answer. :hi:

[Lugnut]

10. I'm not sure

Can you try some plain old latex wall paint on a small piece of glass to see how it works for you? I'd probably try that since I always have some leftover paint stored around here. It might actually work well. Sorry I wasn't much help.

[politicat]

8. We've done some...

One of our windows is right where the neighbor can peer in all day if she wants. I painted the window with stained glass paint a few years ago.

It works okay, but be willing to accept - and appreciate - brush strokes and patterns. Some of them will work better than others. Opacity we did achieve.

However... it didn't work for our needs because I wanted light, too, dammit! So I ended up buying some fancy-schmancy mulberry paper from the really expensive crafts store and gluing the paper to the window with Elmer's. The light filtered through the window, but privacy was achieved and it was a more uniform look than the paint had been. Ended up doing something similar on my back door, but in a mosaic pattern. (And of course I have no photos because I took it all down to replace the sun-faded paper and have not had time to replace said paper.)

It comes off with a spray bottle of water and a bit of patience, which is why I liked the paper idea.

[jmowreader]

11. Paint the MDF, not the glass

Painting etched glass then flipping it around so the etching is between the paint and the room will result in a dull, frosted version of the color.

Instead, paint 1/2" MDF with a high-gloss paint, then cover it with your 1/4" glass.

I'd think about just painting 3/4" MDF with very glossy paint--urethane house paint if you can get it--and hinging it to the cabinets with no glass. Double-strength glass is expensive.