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Article
from Rockler.com
Refinishing Your Cabinetry
A
Labor Intensive Procedure
Although the results of a new finish can be quite dramatic, refinishing
your cabinets is a time consuming, complicated and labor-intensive
process. To do the job properly you must strip, bleach, sand or scrape,
and restain your existing cabinet surfaces before adding a new top coat or
varnish. You must also know the species of wood that you are refinishing
before beginning. This can be further complicated by the fact that your
kitchen cabinetry could be made of several differing types of wood
species. Although it is possible to restain and refinish your cabinetry in
a finish darker than its original hue, it is nearly impossible to refinish
them in a lighter one. But, if you own high-quality natural wood cabinets
that require updating, and you want to maintain their natural wood
appearance, you may decide to refinish them with new stain and top
coating.
Select Your Refinishing Alternative
You can refinish all your existing cabinet surfaces, including your
doors and drawers, or buy new, ready-to-finish doors and drawers and stain
them to match your restained casework. Rockler recommends buying new doors
and drawer fronts for several reasons. The harsh chemical strippers used
to remove old finish can deteriorate glue and cause panel doors and other
glued pieces to come undone. Edge treatments and intricate surfaces can be
extremely difficult to strip and prepare for new stain and finish. Finish
coats can also take an inordinate amount of time to dry, further
complicating the refinishing process. Investing in new doors and drawer
fronts is a solution that can save lots of time, money, and aggravation.
Rockler's custom door and drawer front programs offer a wide selection of
affordable, ready-to-finish styles from which to choose. Simply determine
the size, style, and edge option of the door and drawer fronts you need.
You can either match the style of your existing doors and drawer fronts,
or chose a new one for an exciting new look. New hardware will add the refinement of a professional kitchen
update.
Choose Your New Finish
To begin your refinishing project, you will need to determine what type
of stain and finish you will use to beautify and protect your cabinetry.
There are many types of finishes available. Since the science of finish
work is beyond the scope of this series of articles, Rockler recommends
that you consult with a professional finish retailer or consultant.
The Refinishing Process
Thorough preparation is the key to a successful refinishing job. Be
sure to work in an empty and well-ventilated room, and follow the
refinishing guidelines below.
Step by Step Instructions
- Remove door and drawer hardware, and take all doors off their
hinges.
- Remove existing finish and stain from all surfaces by sanding,
scraping with a cabinet scraper, or using a chemical remover. When using
chemical strippers, follow manufacturer. s directions carefully and use
necessary safety precautions.
- If necessary, bleach old stain from existing wood surfaces. When
using bleaching agents, follow manufacturer's directions carefully and
use necessary safety precautions.
- Sand or scrape existing wood surfaces smooth to prepare them for new
stain. A carbide scraper or
cabinet scraper works well.
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Remove all dust from cabinet surfaces to prepare for staining and
finishing.
- Stain the surfaces of your cabinetry and casework. When using stain,
follow the manufacturer. s directions carefully.
- Apply an oil, varnish, or polyurethane varnish finish according to
the manufacturer's specifications.
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