Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Geneva & Youngstown Metal Kitchen Cabinets: Painting, Removing Dents, Replacement Handles
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Q. Hi all. We have a St Charles kitchen that we love. Unfortunately, I am wheelchair bound now and my powered wheelchair has dented the bottom about 5" up on nearly all the lower cabinets. Nauseating.
I'd like to get them repaired. I had a dent removal gentleman over today who said he can't help me. I suppose I'm going to have to do the body shop route.
Does anyone have any history of metal cabinet dent removal? Anyone who can review how to remove the doors/take them apart to get to the front panel?
Thanks in advance!
Metal cabinet fan - Fredericksburg, Virginia
February 9, 2023
Q. Looking for 1950's Geneva metal kitchen cabinet pivot hinges used or new. I have been looking for a while and have not been successful to say the least. Can anyone help?
Thank you!
- Landisville, Pennsylvania
March 9, 2023
Geneva Metal Kitchen Cabinet Stuff on ebay (affil link)]
Youngstown Metal Kitchen Cabinet Stuff on ebay (affil link)]
Q. Looking for some additional Geneva cabinets.
Anyone have any uppers or lowers for sale?
- Palmyra, New York
August 2, 2024
privately respond to this RFQ
Ed. note: As always, gentle readers: technical replies in public and commercial replies in private please (huh? why?)
A. Hi Nancy,
We had inserted a link to such on eBay just above. Did you look there? I think people with cabinets would be likely to list them there.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
⇩ Related postings, oldest first ⇩
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P A I N T I N G P A I N T I N G P A I N T I N G P A I N T I N G P A I N T I N G P A I N T I N G |
Q. My metal kitchen cabinets are from the 1950s or earlier. I would like to paint them since I cannot afford to replace them. They are in good shape but they are ugly. Someone told me there is a no prep metal paint that requires no preparation of the surface - just paint it on. If this does not exist is there an adhesive type primer I can use before I paint and not have to strip or sand the cabinets? Susan L [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]- Gloucester City, New Jersey 2002 Q. I also have metal kitchen cabinets that I would like to paint. They are Geneva cabinets and in very good condition, but awful color. Any ideas on how to best do this and the type of paint to use will be appreciated. David D [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]- Bowling Green, Kentucky 2006 Q. I have Geneva cabinets that are from the 1950's. They are white and in great shape except for the ugly paint. We are trying to redo the kitchen and keep it as retro as possible. What can I use? Nancy J [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]- Nebraska City, Nebraska 2006 Q. We have Youngstown 1950's to 1960's vintage cabinets. They have been repainted with an enamel paint and the paint has adhered well but need refreshed again (white). What brands of primer/paint would you suggest ? Do I need to use both, or is there a self-adhering paint that will work ? Also, is it true that I should be looking for an auto body paint, or would an enamel paint be sufficient ? Cheri HeadConsumer - Geneva, Nebraska 2007 A. We have Geneva Metal Cabinets in our kitchen and we had a company come and spray paint the inside and outside. They did a great job. I believe they used a special hvlp paint sprayer ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and paint for working on metal. They look great and were finished in a few hours. Well worth the money since we can't afford to gut the kitchen. I would look under appliance and metal painters in the phone book. Our guy was local to our area. Carmelina Mattera- St. Louis, Missouri 2007 Q. Can I ask what company in Saint Louis, MO did you use? I'm in the area and would also like to repaint mine. J Clinton- St. Louis, Missouri May 29, 2024 privately respond to this RFQ Ed. note: As always, gentle readers: technical replies in public and commercial replies in private please (huh? why?) A. Hi J. Sorry, but we can't publicly suggest or un-suggest vendors for a bunch of reasons ( huh? why?). Carmelina could contact you privately about it, but it sounds unlikely that we'll be able to reach her, and that if we can that the company she used is still in business because her posting was from 17 years ago. A. When you don't really care how much it costs, you can do as I did with the 15 piece Geneva Kitchen I salvaged: Disassembled all chrome and plastic, Soda blast to bare metal ($3000) and powder coat ($3200),then reassemble. Robert Srour- Rockville, Maryland A. I also have a kitchen that featured metal cabinets made by Geneva. They were dirty and ugly. After cleaning them up, I used a roll-on, epoxy appliance paint manufactured by Rustoleum. When you roll the paint on, the surface will be covered with tiny bubbles. This freaked me out at first. As the bubbles began to pop (immediately after application) they formed a nice, orange peel texture. It took two coats of white appliance paint to cover. I love the result. - De Smet, South Dakota Q. Sirs: - Grand Rapids, Michigan February 14, 2008 A. I have Geneva Metal cabinets in great condition and I can not justify replacing them. I have painted them with regular acrylic paints - use a sponge, not a brush - and then polyurethaned them. You can get a low odor, flat to gloss finish with the polyurethane. My parents and my aunt have both painted their cabinets with different methods, but have not had my success with durability. My aunt had her's sanded down to the metal, primed and painted with car paint. These cabinets started to yellow and degrade within a couple of years. My parents sanded and sprayed their cabinets with an initial great finish, but, alas, they too, started to yellow and the paint is wearing off as we speak (or, rather, read). Painting with the acrylics and polyurethaning has had the most lasting effects. Painting with a sponge is scary, but the air bubbles "dried out" and the finish is a matte finish that is very smooth. The polyurethane just makes the cabinets very cleanable. From the voice of twenty years of experience... - Franklin, Pennsylvania Q. I was wondering where you had your cabinets repainted. I have a great set, as we bought a house previous GENEVA salesman. Sorry, no extra parts, but I do DESPERATELY need to know where to get my cabinets painted. Thanks! Luby Kelley- Crestwood, Missouri June 2, 2008 A. Hi, Luby. Any auto body shop (collision repair shop) will have the right equipment and the competent people to spray the cabinets. Although not all auto body shops want to do that kind of work, some are happy to.  Ted Mooney, P.E. Striving to live Aloha finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey A. I have Geneva cabinets in my kitchen that were installed in 1951 by the original owner. We have had them painted twice using epoxy paint.They did wonderfully and I am considering painting them again. The shelves are coated wire so no bugs on the shelves and you can see up into the top shelf easily. If you use epoxy paint you must not stay in the house for 24 hours as the fumes are toxic. Charlotte Wolfe- Savannah, Tennessee Q. My question is, I have purple St. Charles metal cabinet that are in great condition, need advise on changing colors. Jomain Brown- Lake Charles, Louisiana June 30, 2009 A. Hi, Jomain. Just scrub them with detergent to remove any film of kitchen grease, very lightly sand them to remove some of the gloss from the existing paint, and spray them with a rattle can of paint. Good luck. Ted Mooney, P.E. Striving to live Aloha finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey A. Okay, well, I painted these myself. I have the textured fronts and smooth sides and I am not a painter but with a small air compressor [adv: air compressors on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and a gravity feed paint gun and some 1-step auto paint, this did an awesome job. I however removed all the cabinets to the garage and lightly scuffed them with a green scuff pad, prepped the surface with some cleaner used for auto paint, and taught myself how to do this... and only one paint run on the whole job. Dave Kavana- Marthasville, Missouri, USA November 28, 2012 Painting frames that cannot be removed on Geneva metal cabinetsQ. I am in the process of having an auto body shop strip and repaint my Geneva metal cabinets. The cabinets and doors have been completed in a high gloss metallic. They are gorgeous. I now am left with the challenge of them coming to the house to try to spray or brush paint the 2" frames that are not removable as well as to figure out how to remove the Lazy Susan to spray paint. Any recommendations are appreciated. Donna Halloranhobbyist - Northborough, Massachusetts USA April 16, 2016 A. Hi Donna. The powder coating shop may have or be able to make touch-up paint to use as your topcoat which will quite closely match your cabinets. Regards, Ted Mooney, P.E. RET Striving to live Aloha finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey A. I have a huge kitchen, 14x25. My house is from the 1850's. When we bought the house it had no cabinets in the kitchen just a stove. 5 years ago I acquired a bunch of Geneva cabinets. - west warwick Rhode Island usa March 3,2017 Q. I live in an apartment building that opened in 1967, and my unit has the original Geneva metal cabinets (originally "harvest gold" and painted over twice). homemaker - Colorado Springs, Colorado August 31, 2021 A. Hi Carolyn. You can certainly try various paint removers in inconspicuous spots if you wish. But personally I don't think it's a realistic project trying to remove two layers of paint while leaving the third unharmed. A dab of a vandal's paint removed from a Masterpiece by an art specialist for five figures maybe ... but all the non-original paint from metal cabinets? Unfortunately, I doubt it. Maybe someone else will be more encouraging. Luck & Regards, Ted Mooney, P.E. RET Striving to live Aloha finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey A. Try various solvents and solvent mixtures too (9 parts water, 0.9 parts alcohol, 0.1 part ammonia
⇦ this on
eBay or
Amazon [affil links] 25%), acetone
⇦ this on
eBay
or
Amazon
[affil links] Warning! highly Flammable!
, white spirit, toluene, 3 parts acetone/1 part ammonia 25%). - Cerovski Vrh 157, Croatia |
Need handles and inserts for Geneva Metal Cabinets
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H A N D L E S & R E P L A C E M E N T P A R T S H A N D L E S & R E P L A C E M E N T P A R T S |
Q. Need handles and inserts for Geneva metal cabinets [circa 1953] Homeowner - St Louis, Missouri Q. I am also in need of the plastic inserts! Can anyone help? Angela Murray- Falls Creek, Pennsylvania March 22, 2008 Q. I am looking for a response to the questions from others looking for plastic inserts for metal Geneva Cabinets. Thank you, Jim James H McRoy- Southbridge, Massachusetts September 8, 2008 Q. We are looking for special clips that hold wire shelves in Geneva Cabinets. Any ideas? Thanks! Martha GallagherHobbyist - Sandwich, Massachusetts September 2, 2008 Q. Looking for Geneva metal kitchen cabinet hinges ... used or new ... can anyone help. architect - Montville, New Jersey October 15, 2008 Q. I'm in the process of re-organizing my kitchen and find I could use more shelves in my upper cabinets. hobbyist - Olathe, Kan, USA October 21, 2008 Q. I, too, am looking for white plastic inserts for Geneva cabinets. I have looked everywhere I can think of, including local salvage warehouses, but with no luck. Anybody have any suggestions? Margret Schnitzer- Baltimore, Maryland February 5, 2009 Q. We are in need of the plastic pieces for our cabinets. Does anyone know where we can purchase some? Julie Taylorhome owner - Crawfordsville, Indiana April 23, 2009 Geneva Metal Kitchen Cabinet Stuff on ebay (affil link)] Q. I also have 60 year old Geneva cabinets, and would like to repaint them. I need new handles, however. Does anyone have a source for these? Thank you. - Arlington, Virginia, USA December 29, 2010 Q. Hi, - Grand Ledge, Michigan, USA February 10, 2013 A. I found this recommendation and link earlier from several people that were looking for replacement parts for old metal kitchen cabinets. Am going to contact them to find replacement sliders for drawers in my own similar cabinets. - Cedar Michigan USA April 4, 2016 How about 3D Printing of replacement handles for Geneva kitchen cabinets?Q. We've just had our Geneva cabinets repainted (first update in decades as far as I could tell). Some of the handles are discolored and chipped so we are thinking of having replacements 3-D printed. Let me know if anyone has tried this. Libby McDuffee- Nashville, Tennessee USA January 9, 2015 Q. We have Geneva metal cabinets in a house we are renovating and I'm looking for the plastic insert for the cabinets. I have all the metal handles but a few of the plastic inserts have split apart. - Meeker, Colorado August 9, 2020 A. Hi Stephanie. Many people asked on this page, and I'll bet a lot of readers didn't bother asking after seeing the question left unanswered many times :-) I'm sure a local plastics fabricator could easily make them, or a guy with a 3-D printer could as well; but if you can put up with endless running in circles first, exhibiting more patience than me, google just might find you a supplier :-) Luck & Regards, Ted Mooney, P.E. RET Striving to live Aloha finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey Q. I have a 3D printer but I'm not super skilled at its use, and I'm wondering if anyone has files to make those plastic inserts (as they're being called here). I found something on Thingiverse, but it's not quite right--it's got right angle edges, not curves. Thanks in advance. Kathy Howard- Las Cruces, New Mexico September 6, 2022 A. If someone would post a good picture it would probably help. Some of us who don't have Geneva cabinets have seen various metal and plastic shelf holders elsewhere but have no clue whether they'd be appropriate for a Geneva metal cabinet. Luck & Regards, Ted Mooney, P.E. RET Striving to live Aloha finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey |
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D E N T S D E N T S |
Q. We have beautifully redone white Geneva cabinets that we love, but we are wondering how one would go about repairing a dent? - St. Louis, Missouri March 30, 2008 Q. I am just wanting to know if there was any response to the question about removing a dent from a metal cabinet? Elizabeth A Bates- Garwin, Iowa September 10, 2008 Q. Any idea on the fixing of dented Geneva cabinets? Sally Costik- Bradford, Pennsylvania, USA August 23, 2010 A. Hi folks. Removing a dent from a metal cabinet is probably very little different from removing a dent from a car, so you can google for endless advice. But just as most people will make a mess of it if they try to fix a dent in a car -- leaving crinkles or ripped metal, they'll probably make the same mess of it with a metal cabinet. The best way is probably to find a shop which does body work and repainting. Baring that, you'll probably have to read a lot but -- mostly -- practice on scrap metal before trying your hand on actual cabinets and ruining them. Luck & Regards, Ted Mooney, P.E. RET Striving to live Aloha finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey |
A. I am a painting contractor and have finished numerous Geneva Cabinets over the years. I find the best way is to give a good cleaning, light 220 sand, prime and paint with a quality gloss or semi-gloss. No need for epoxies or any of that crazy stuff. We have found an turbine
⇦ this on
eBay or
Amazon [affil links]
similar to the auto shops to be best. There are numerous products that will spray well and will last. One thing, we do isolate the room and use a negative air machine to withdraw airborne particles and keep odor from migrating into the house. Also the sprayer should be wearing proper respiratory protection.
I guess a talented homeowner could attempt but I would leave it to the pro's as even a lot of my competitors stay away from this as they need auto body talent mechanics.
As for the dents, just like auto body, use Bondo
⇦ this on
eBay
or
Amazon [affil links]
Price: for full protection, containment, prep, prime, paint, replace hardware, and final clean. My usual price for a normal kitchen is $1,750.00. I may even be too cheap.
- Plainview, New York, USA
December 15, 2011
Ed. note: Thank you very much for the excellent information, David! Supporting advertisers make this forum possible.More are always welcome, but the site would drown under spam in a week if people could advertise their services for free in forum postings.
The Internet Demand Curve: Infinite demand at zero cost, near zero demand at infinitesimal cost. -- Thomas J. Pullizzi, 1995
Q. I have just moved into a house that has Geneva kitchen cabinets. The cabinets were originally harvest gold and have since been painted twice. The original handles and hardware on the cabinets were removed at some point and new hardware was added. When the new hardware was added, new holes were drilled into the doors and drawers. The new handles covered the original holes. Is it possible to patch up the two sets of screw holes and start over?
Margaret Warnusz- St. Louis, Missouri, USA
March 6, 2017
A. Hi Margaret. Auto body shops can do much more complicated repairs than that with simple body filler ⇨
You can certainly do it yourself if you have the patience to do the proper sanding. Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Disassembly of Geneva Countertops?
Q. I have also refinished and am looking for 4 plastic handle backs. I think these cabinets are great, but has anyone out there replaced the counter tops. I want to replace them. How do we disconnect the original ones and attach the new?
Yvonne Frydenlund- DeForest, Wisconsin
June 4, 2008
Come to Fresh Meadows for Geneva Cabinets
! If anyone is that interested in Geneva cabinets from the late 40's early 50's come to fresh meadows queens (New York). Fresh meadows apartments complex houses 3000 families and many of the kitchens still have Geneva kitchen cabinets. Fresh meadows recently began gutting out the kitchens after tenants move out and most likely throw away the Geneva kitchen cabinets.
Ryan S [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]student - Fresh Meadows, Long Island, New York
August 3, 2009
A. Hey I live in Fresh Meadows and yes the guy above me is right. I have seen them toss out the metal cabinets and placing in wood ones. But I did find an image of someone who painted their metal cabinets. Look at the "before" image:
retrorenovation.com/2008/02/13/painting-metal-kitchen-cabinets-jay-and-jamies-nashville-condo-with-retro-renovated-youngstown-cabinets/
- Fresh Meadows, New York
Hello Folks,
I also have a full compliment of beautiful and rare Geneva Metal Cabinets in the house that I just purchased... I was told by a gentleman on another forum that the cabinets in my house were rare because they have rounded doors vs. square ones... not to mention that they still have the original stickers and I even found the original blueprint in a closet!
- St. Louis, Missouri
April 25, 2010
Q. One of the drawers in our 1950s Geneva metal kitchen cabinets has a broken roller. Any suggestions on how to fix it?
Also, I am contemplating having a company come in and spray the cabinets electrostatically. Should I have inside and outside done or only inside. Insides are in good condition.
Any suggestions for good electrostatic painting company in Chicago area?
- Chicago, Illinois USA
January 3, 2018
Ed. note: Sorry, we can't post suggestions of painting companies (huh? why?). There are sites better suited to sourcing home contractors like Angieslist and HomeAdvisor.
A. You can get rollers for Geneva Cabinet drawers at Home Depot - 1 1/8 inch nylon. To install, you need to pry off the bolt at the front of the rail that holds the drawer by sticking a thin but sturdy spatula under the bolt and pulling until it comes out. Then you can lift the rail off the back holes on the cabinet itself.
Next you need to grind off (go to an auto body shop if you don't have a grinder yourself) the piece holding the wheel so that you have a completely flat hole. You need to grind on the front and the back to get rid of all raised areas. This is very impt. Your hole will be much bigger than the screw holding the wheel.
Then go to a local (old style) hardware store and experiment with different washers until you find a good fit to hold the new wheel securely in the rail. it took us 1/2 hr of experimentation. We found three washers - two different size washers with teeth and one other (can't remember which type) to be best.
- Chicago
August 9, 2021
Q. I have a drawer with the Geneva Modern Kitchen label and I've been trying to find out some information about it. It is a green drawer that slides open but has a top that raises.
I have pictures if that would help identify.
Any help would help.
Linda Smith- Show Low, Arizona
May 25, 2020
A. Hi Linda. You can do a web search for "Geneva metal cabinets" or "postwar metal cabinets" and (after wading through stuff for sale) you'll find several websites offering some history.
Your specific item does seem strange, opening both with a hinge on top and as a drawer; I can't see a functional reason. I suspect it may be a demonstration piece for salespeople to show both a medicine cabinet style Geneva item and a drawer assembly while carrying only one piece.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Q. I can't figure out how to adjust the lazy susan in my Geneva kitchen cabinets. It's scraping against the base and I need to adjust it before painting. I've searched online, but find nothing so far like what I have. Would appreciate guidance please.
"Crystal Clark"Owner of my home - VAN WERT [Ohio?]
July 27, 2021
A. Hi. If you find nothing like it online it sounds unlikely that people can properly envision what it looks like or how to adjust it. Please send a photo or two to mooney@finishing.com for posting here to give us a fighting chance :-)
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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