Can you restain wood cabinets

If your cabinets are painted… Before embarking, remove one of the doors and sand off a small area of the finish on the back. Do the same to an area at the back of a rail or stile horizontal or vertical framing member. If you find hardwood, proceed to the next step. If the doors and drawer fronts are fiberboard, forget about refinishing them with stain.

If the doors and drawer fronts are made of hardwood, remove them and take off all the hardware. In a well-ventilated room or outdoors , use a paint stripper to remove the existing finish. Removing paint from cabinets, or any wood furniture, requires patience. Not all of the paint lifts off after the first application of remover, and maybe not after the second or third, either.

Use a sharp scraper to remove as much finish as possible and use whatever you have on hand old spoons, dental tools, etc. Fill dents and deep scratches with wood filler, then sand thoroughly until all finish is removed and the wood is super smooth with no scratches.

Make your first pass with an orbital sander using grit paper, your second with grit paper, and your last pass with grit. Decide on a stain finish. Before starting, you need to have an idea of what you want your finished cabinets to look like.

The color or shade of stain you use affects how a room feels, especially the kitchen. To open up a room and make it feel larger, opt for a light stain. To add warmth to a larger kitchen or room and make it seem cozier, choose a darker stain. Also, keep in mind the type of wood from which your cabinets are made. You want the stain color you are going for to complement the wood. Some stains work better with a particular wood more so than others.

For example, woods such as rosewood, cherry and mahogany are types that are rarely stained because of their natural appearance.

They are usually just protected with a clear coat. Woods such as maple are less porous than others and so are harder to stain. For help deciding, get advice from an associate at your local True Value hardware store. There are several types of stains to choose from. Oil-based stains penetrate into the wood without raising the grain but carry a strong odor. Instead, you may choose a water-based stain.

They do often require a light sanding to minimize raising the grain. Remove cabinet doors and drawers, and their hinges, handles, knobs, closures and other hardware using a screwdriver. If you're going to stain your cabinets with the doors on, you don't have to remove the hinges. Just mask them with painter's tape. Keep in mind, though, that staining the pieces may be easier with them removed.

Be sure to protect floors, countertops and any other surfaces in your kitchen or work area with drop cloths or plenty of newspaper. Also, remember to keep track of the hardware and which door or drawer corresponds with it. Cabinetry that's in good condition -- sturdy and free from major damage -- can be easily refreshed with new stain or paint. Old kitchen cabinets can accumulate layers of dirt, grease and grime.

New paint or stain won't adhere properly to dirty, greasy surfaces, so a thorough cleaning of your cabinets is a vital step in refinishing them.

Prior to cleaning, use a screwdriver to remove the doors and drawers from the cabinets, as well as additional hardware, such as knobs and handles. Also, remove the shelves from the interior spaces of your cabinets. Wipe down the exterior cabinet surfaces with a cloth dampened with mineral spirits.

You can also opt for a natural cleaner made from distilled vinegar and hot water. Preparing your cabinetry prior to refinishing can provide a durable, aesthetically-pleasing finish. Fill small cracks, holes and dings with wood filler. Yes, it is possible to paint cabinets without sanding. If you prep with the right products, you can save yourself the hassle with these tips! The kitchen, Saturday morning: Complete with dirty dishes in the sink. Skip to content. Can You Stain Cabinets Darker??