How to Antique Glaze Kitchen Cabinets

If you're tired of your kitchen cabinets and want a new look, change their appearance by applying an antique glaze. You don't even have to remove the old finish; simply glaze right over the existing one. You can even put an antique glaze on your kitchen cabinet doors without removing them. In a few hours you'll have a fresh style in your kitchen without tearing everything apart.

Things You'll Need

• Oil-based glaze
• Oil-based stain
• Paint thinner (if necessary)
• Stiff paintbrush
• Sea sponge or lint-free rags
• Fine-grade sandpaper or steel wool
• Polyurethane, varnish, or other sealer
• Tack cloth

Instructions

1. Purchase the right products. Look for oil-based antiquing glaze--a clear liquid finish. When you add oil-based stain, the glaze gives the stain a translucent look when you apply it to wood. If you want very subtle color, mix a lighter oak stain into the antiquing glaze. If you want darker, more dramatic color, use black walnut or mahogany stain. Find both oil-based wood stain and antiquing glaze in the paint section at home improvement stores.

2. Remove hardware. If you'd like the cabinet hinges to have an antique look similar to the wood, leave them on. Remove the knobs or handles.

3. Mix glaze. Start by adding a small amount of oil-based stain to your glaze. Keep adding until you get the subtle color you desire. Practice on a piece of scrap wood or the inside of a cabinet door until you get the color you desire.

4. Apply glaze. Use a stiff brush to apply glaze. Pay particular attention to the corners and any recessed areas of the cabinet fronts. Brush slowly and evenly, going with the direction of the wood grain.

5. Wipe off excess glaze. Using a sea sponge or lint-free cloth, wipe off excess glaze following the direction of the wood grain. For a highlighted effect, wipe off most of the glaze on the raised areas of the piece and leave more in the recessed areas. For a regular antiqued look, wipe with the wood grain and leave small amounts of glaze in the recessed areas.

6. Allow the glaze to dry overnight.

7. Sand lightly with fine grade sandpaper or steel wool.

8. Wipe cabinets with damp cloth or tack cloth to remove sanding dust.

9. Apply top coat of polyurethane, varnish or sealer. Brush on a thin coat. Allow to dry.

10. Sand lightly with finish grade sandpaper or steel wool. Wipe off sanding dust.

11. Apply a second top coat if desired, let dry, sand lightly, and wipe off sanding dust.

Tips & Warnings

• It is not necessary to strip the existing finish off your cabinets; for an authentic antique finish, apply antiquing glaze directly over existing finish. Oil-based glaze and stain work best for this project; their longer drying time makes it easier to remove excess stain before it dries. A "tack cloth" is a cloth impregnated with adhesive and used to remove every trace of sanding dust between coats of stain, glaze, or top coat; it is available at home improvement centers.

• Use cloths made out of man-made fibers when wiping off excess glaze; natural fiber cloths leave behind specks of lint that will mar the finish. Mix enough stain-colored glaze to finish the job; it's hard to match colors exactly if you run out before completing the job.