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Many homeowners are looking for ways to update their kitchens without breaking the bank. Painting cabinets is a popular option to change the look of a kitchen, but many homeowners prefer to keep the natural wood tones that are lost when the cabinets are painted. Refinishing wood cabinets can cost thousands of dollars less than installing new cabinets and give your kitchen a new look without sacrificing its natural wood tones. Refinishing kitchen cabinets is not a quick and easy DIY task, so be prepared to put in some time and effort if you plan to tackle the project yourself. Previous experience sanding and staining wood, even on smaller projects, will be helpful in completing this project.
To sand down all surfaces well, it will help to remove the doors, drawers (or drawer fronts, if removable), hinges and knobs, and strip off any existing paint and stain. Before you remove the doors and drawers, make sure you have an easy way to put them back in the same configuration. For example, number cabinet fronts so you remember which door goes where. A good labeling system will make reinstallation easier. If any of the surfaces are dirty, clean them before sanding. You may need a degreasing cleaner to remove built-up grease and grime from cabinets.
Sanding a complete set of kitchen cabinets is time consuming and physically demanding, so be sure to allow plenty of time for the task. Also ensure proper ventilation and have dust masks for anyone in the area as sanding cabinets create a lot of dust. A sturdy pair of sawhorses will also come in handy for sanding down any cabinet doors that were removed.
Once the cabinet frames and doors are prepped, it’s time to start sanding. Start by removing major blemishes with a medium grit sandpaper and finish with a fine grit sandpaper to ensure a smooth finish. A random orbital sander is a great tool for sanding cabinets, but finishing by hand can help you remove blemishes more precisely. Remove all stain until you have completely bare wood if you intend to stain the cabinets a different color. Sanding the doors and cabinet frames down to the bare wood will result in a smoother finish.
When all the wooden surfaces are smooth and bare, the next phase of staining can begin.