Strippers and Staining Oak Kitchen Cabinets
By Woodrow AamesRefacingCabinet.com Columnist
If you've paid handsomely for oak kitchen cabinets, you want to treat them right. Eventually, even durable oak cabinets need a facelift. If you're looking at re-staining them, proceed with caution. Even professional finishers go slow, stripping cabinets first so the new stain can penetrate the hard wood. New stains accentuate the grain and imperfections in the wood, so preparation work is an indispensible part of the process.
The first step, obviously, is to carefully remove the doors and all your cabinet hardware. Then you need to prep the oak. There are plenty of "safe" strippers and varnish removers on the market, but make sure you buy one for indoor use that is specifically designed for oak. They work best on clear finishes including shellac, varnish, and polyurethane. There are low-moisture strippers on the market especially designed for veneers. Some professionals recommend the use of methylene chloride, a stripper designed for furniture. Cover your stripping agent with wax paper and let it do its work per the manufacturer's instructions.
Staining Your Oak Kitchen Cabinets
When you're done prepping, use a brush to apply the new stain to your oak kitchen cabinets. Be sure to apply each coat in the direction of the natural oak grain. Avoid using too much, creating blobs or pools of paint that will mar the finish. You may want to add a second coat if you missed spots, but avoid restoring your hardware or adding new hardware until the oak is completely dry.
If you're planning on using a dark stain, remember that oak is tough to penetrate and you may need several applications.
Sources
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/stain-golden-oak-cabinets-in-five-steps
http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-remove-old-paint-and-varnish/index.html
About The Author
Woodrow Aames has written articles and profiles for Yahoo, Microsoft Network, Microsoft Encarta, and other websites and print magazines around the world. He holds an MFA degree and has taught English abroad.
