Things You'll Need:
- Oil-based paint
- 220- and 320-grit sandpaper
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Step 1
Remove everything from the cabinet(s). Take off the doors, drawers and all hardware. The drawer fronts are probably screwed on. Remove the fronts and place the drawers in a safe place. Also, put all the hardware, screws and hinges in a container.
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Step 2
Prepare the TSP cleaner according to the instructions on the package. TSP stands for Trisodium Phosphate. You can find this kind of cleaner in the paint supply aisle of your local home improvement store.
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Step 3
Soak a lint free cloth with the solution and wring out.
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Step 4
Use the cloth to only clean the surfaces you are going to paint. You can clean the insides of the cabinets and drawers with a gentler cleaner at the end of the project, but make sure there's no loose debris inside the cabinet.
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Step 5
If required by the TSP instructions, rinse the cabinets with clean water and dry with another lint free towel. Make sure the cabinet is completely dry before moving onto the next step.
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Step 1
Put on rubber gloves, especially if you have sensitive skin.
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Step 2
Work in the deglosser into the wood. Just as with the cleaning, make sure to get every surface you are going to paint. Work the deglosser into all the corners and any design on the cabinet. The more shiny you remove, the better the primer and paint will adhere.
The deglosser is going to remove the shine from the wood. This eliminated the need for sanding (unless you have an extremely rough surface). -
Step 3
Allow the deglosser to dry completely before moving onto priming. Some deglossers may have you clean the surface again. Make sure to read the instructions.
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Step 1
Place drop cloths over surfaces you want to protect. Tape off any areas around the painting surfaces. If you have a garage, you might want to paint the drawer fronts and doors there to keep things cleaner.
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Step 2
Using long brush strokes and going with the grain, apply a thin even layer of oil based primers. Using oil based primer will ensure a more durable finish than latex. You can choose to use latex, but you will probably want to seal your paint at the end. An oil-based product just removes that step. Plus oil-based paint doesn't show brush strokes as well.
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Step 3
Watch for drips and take care of them as you see them.
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Step 4
Prime all the surfaces you are going to paint. Make sure to let the primer dry completely before priming the backside of drawer fronts and doors. At this point your cabinets will look terrible--don't worry, it will look better once you start painting.
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Step 5
Clean your brush well with paint thinner and hang it up to dry.
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Step 6
Allow primer to dry completely before painting. In temperatures above 65 degrees F, the primer will dry in about 1 hour. You may have to wait longer if you live in a colder or more humid climate.
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Step 1
Like with the primer, paint in long strokes with the grain of the wood. You want a thin layer of paint. This is just the first coat--you'll probably have 2 to 3 by the time you are done.
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Step 2
Be sure to catch any drips as they happen or you'll have to sand them out later. Don't be too concerned if there are light spots on the first coat. Again, you will be doing more coats.
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Step 3
Allow the paint to dry according to the directions.
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Step 4
Look at your work. Are there areas that seem too thick? If yes, take the 220-grit sandpaper and lightly rub the thick areas/drips.
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Step 5
Take the 320-grit and lightly go over the whole cabinet, drawer fronts and doors. This removes brush strokes and leaves you with a smooth surface. Then remove any debris with a damp lint-free cloth. Allow it to dry (it should only take a few minutes).
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Step 6
Apply at least one more coat. Once you are happy with the finish, allow the cabinet, drawer fronts and doors to dry for a day or two before putting everything back together. Be sure to remove the tape from around the cabinet frame within a couple days or it may stick.
