Painting face frame cabinet

[Stove M]

I am in the process of painting kitchen cabinets that were originally stained and varnished. Do you have any tips on getting paint into the joints in the frame?

[Kansas City Fireslayer]

For face frames, I’d fill small and short joints with bondo or caulk. If you expect a lot of season humidity changes in the home the bondo may very well crack in the dry season unless you have a humidifier. For long vertical joints I’ve always used the smallest amount of caulk I could use to fill the joint and not take away from any profiles. A flex putty knife with a slightly rounded tip works well to tool the caulk and get in deeper where your finger can’t access. A damp tile sponge works well too. This is for 90 degree corner joints.

Spackling paste is also a decent and quick to use filler for smaller holes or defects. Paste is a heavier bodied filler compared to the traditional lightweight spackling.

[John Mihich]

For face frames, I’d fill small and short joints with bondo or caulk.  If you expect a lot of season humidity changes in the home the bondo may very well crack in the dry season unless you have a humidifier.  For long vertical joints I’ve always used the smallest amount of caulk I could use to fill the joint and not take away from any profiles.  A flex putty knife with a slightly rounded tip works well to tool the caulk and get in deeper where your finger can’t access.  A damp tile sponge works well too.  This is for 90 degree corner joints.

Spackling paste is also a decent and quick to use filler for smaller holes or defects.  Paste is a heavier bodied filler compared to the traditional lightweight spackling.

Agree on the bondo.  I use spackle a lot for small defects, scratches, etc.  Thin coats for all - less sanding.

[Splinter Puller]

you might want to consider a thinner first coat to get into the cracks... something with floetrol or some other additive.  maybe your paint supplier could have suggestions.