How to Stain Old Kitchen Cabinets

If you're remodeling your kitchen, one of the first things that may get your attention are the kitchen cabinets. But if you're on a budget, replacing kitchen cabinets can be expensive. An excellent alternative, and a great way to redo your cabinets for less money, is to strip the old paint and finishes off of your cabinets and stain them. You'll invest some time, but you'll likely be pleased with the results.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rubber gloves
• Rags
• Foam brushes
• Wood stripper
• Wood stain
• Polyurethane coating

1. Remove the doors of your cabinets. When you open the doors, you'll see the mounting hardware secured by screws. Unscrew these and remove the doors. Set up a work area that's well-ventilated.

2. Remove the old layers of paint, varnish and stains. You can sand off these layers, but that is a time-consuming and difficult process. It's much better to use a chemical paint stripper instead. Good results can be had with a number of commercial paint-stripper products such as Peel Away (see Resources below). Apply with a cloth in a well-ventilated space. In some cases, multiple applications may be necessary.

3. Stain the cabinets with the stain you've chosen. Minwax stains have an excellent reputation and a wide variety of color choices (see Resources below). Apply the stain with a foam brush, and allow for the porosity of the wood, as some types of wood may need a second coat. Allow the stained cabinets at least 6 to 8 hours to dry.

4. Apply polyurethane to the finished cabinets. Polyurethane coatings bring out the color of the wood and protect the finish as well (see Resources below). Apply the polyurethane with a foam brush and allow 6 to 8 hours for the polyurethane to dry and harden before completing your work.

5. Remount your cabinet doors to the cabinets. This is a good opportunity to update the look by changing the hardware on your cabinets as well.

Resources

• Peel Away #6
• Minwax stains
• Polyurethane finishes