Centurion 400 vs Sherwin-Williams Gallery Series What You Need to Know for Cabinet Coatings

Pacificraft
Nov 14
3 min read

When you’re refinishing kitchen cabinets, your coating choice determines everything—the smoothness of the finish, long-term durability, chemical resistance, and how professional the final product really looks.

Two of the most widely discussed cabinet coatings today are:

Centurion 400 Series — a professional-grade acrylic lacquer system
Sherwin-Williams Gallery Series — a high-build, spray-applied cabinet enamel designed for improved application control

Both are quality coatings. Both are designed to be sprayed.But they serve very different users and project goals.

If you're a DIYer stepping into spray finishing, a painting contractor, or a woodworker choosing between these products, this breakdown will help you decide which coating fits your skills, equipment, and expectations.

1. The Professional Standard vs. The Accessible Alternative

Centurion 400: The Contractor’s Workhorse

Centurion 400 is a commercial-grade acrylic lacquer made for refinishing pros who want efficiency and precision. When catalyzed, it becomes one of the most durable waterborne lacquer systems available.

Why pros love it:

Extremely fast dry time (30–45 minutes)
Sands beautifully between coats
Ultra-smooth, factory-grade appearance
Excellent chemical and moisture resistance
Optional catalyst for maximum durability
Consistent results on big or small jobs

But: it requires strong spraying fundamentals and environmental control.

Sherwin-Williams Gallery: The High-Control Option

Sherwin-Williams Gallery is also a spray-only system — not a brushable enamel.Its main advantage is control. Gallery is engineered to be forgiving for new sprayers due to:

High sag resistance
Long open time
Smooth leveling
Soft initial dry that reduces lap marks

This makes it appealing for:

DIYers learning to spray
Painters without a dedicated spray booth
Smaller shops or garages

Trade-off:That longer open time means longer dry times—typically 1.5–2+ hours before recoating.

2. Application & Time Investment: Where These Products Really Differ

Centurion 400 – Speed + Professional Efficiency

Centurion is designed for production speed.

Application advantages:

Recoat in as little as 30–45 minutes
Sandable quickly
Hardens fast and stacks well
Cuts days off a full kitchen project

This makes it ideal for:

High-volume cabinet refinishing
Professional painters
Tight deadlines

But fast dry time is unforgiving. It requires:

Correct spray setup
Experience with lacquer-type finishes
Environmental control

Sherwin-Williams Gallery – Forgiving but Slow

Gallery is built for control, not speed.

Application characteristics:

Longer open time → fewer chances for runs
Softer initial film → easier to fix early mistakes
More forgiving for new sprayers

But the cost is time:

1.5–2+ hours between coats
Slower build
Longer total project duration

This matters when you’re doing a project in your garage, at night, or with limited equipment.

3. Durability & Finish Quality: What Really Lasts?

Centurion 400 Durability

Even without catalyst, Centurion 400 is impressively durable. Catalyzing takes it to a commercial-level finish:

Excellent chemical resistance
KCMA-compliant performance
More scratch-resistant than typical waterborne enamels
Hard, factory-like finish

Sherwin-Williams Gallery Durability

Gallery has good durability for a waterborne cabinet product — better than typical wall paints or trim paints — but not as elite as a catalyzed lacquer system.

Strengths:

Great leveling
Solid durability for everyday cabinet use
Less prone to sagging, even for novices

Weaknesses:

Softer initially
Longer cure time
Not as chemically resistant as Centurion

Finish Quality Comparison

Centurion: denser, harder, more glass-like final appearance
Gallery: smoother leveling for newer sprayers; softer micro-texture

Both look great — Centurion just looks more factory-grade.

4. Which One Should YOU Use?

Choose Centurion 400 if you:

Are a professional refinisher
Want the strongest, hardest finish
Need fast project turnaround
Can spray confidently
Have proper ventilation and equipment

Bottom Line:Centurion 400 is the gold standard for professional cabinet finishing.

Choose Sherwin-Williams Gallery if you:

Are new to spraying
Need a more forgiving spray feel
Aren’t on a tight timeline
Want something easier to source locally
Want a smoother learning curve

Bottom Line:Gallery is better for beginners or DIYers who want great results without professional-level speed or setup.

Final Thoughts

Both products have their place — but they’re not interchangeable.

Centurion 400: Best finish, best durability, fastest turnaround, requires skill.
Sherwin-Williams Gallery: More forgiving, easier to source, slower to work with, great for new sprayers.

At Pacificraft, we exclusively use Centurion 400 because it gives our clients a true factory-grade finish—ultra smooth, durable, and resistant to the wear that kitchens endure every single day.

If you want your kitchen cabinets professionally transformed using the best coatings available, we’d love to help.