How to Make Cabinet Paint Look Like Enamel

If you have got old-fashioned built-in wood cabinets that are covered with a flat, dirt-absorbing paint, you can always repaint the whole thing with enamel paint. But what if that flat paint is part of the original finish of the cabinets, an antique look that you do not want to lose and are not sure you can replicate with new paint? There is another solution. Polyurethane gloss goes on in a clear, glassy layer. It provides shine and protection over whatever it covers, without hiding the colors underneath.

Things You'll Need

• 300-grit sandpaper
• Tack cloths
• Screwdriver
• Newspapers
• Masking tape
• Polyurethane gloss
• Brush

Instructions

1. Very lightly sand the painted surface of the cabinets with 300-grit sandpaper. Sand it just enough to get the surface clean and dull, not enough to affect the color of the paint. Use a tack cloth to wipe away all the dust.

2. Take the cabinet apart, removing all doors, drawer fronts, knobs, hinges and other fixtures. Spread out all the wood pieces on newspaper. Tape newspaper alongside the parts of the cabinet attached to the wall.

3. Open and gently stir your polyurethane to get it well-mixed without creating bubbles. Dip your brush about 2 inches into the can, and begin brushing it onto the cabinets. Apply the gloss in thin, slow strokes, to avoid bubbling. Cover all the painted surfaces of the cabinets, doors and other parts. Let it dry for 24 hours.

4. Lightly buff the whole glossed surface as before, using 300-grit sandpaper and then removing the dust with a tack cloth. Apply a second coat of polyurethane in the same manner as the first coat. Let it dry.

5. Repeat the process of sanding and glossing for at least three coats and as many as five. Let the final coat cure for a full 48 hours before putting the cabinets back together.

Tips & Warnings

• Ventilate the room while working with polyurethane.

References

• Kitchen Cabinets and Hardware