How to Refinish & Stain Cabinets

Staining or restaining cabinets is a simple but time consuming job.

Cabinets can be purchased finished or unfinished. Unfinished cabinets are generally cheaper than finished cabinets. Another useful thing about unfinished cabinets is that you can also select the perfect color to match your room. Sometimes cabinets are already finished and you wish to change the color. If this is the case, it is a simple process much like staining an unfinished cabinet with just a few extra steps.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips head screwdriver
• 80-grit sandpaper (if you are refinishing already stained cabinets)
• 120-grit sandpaper (if you are refinishing already stained cabinets)
• Damp cloth
• 2-inch foam paintbrush
• 1 quart can stain (more if you are doing multiple cabinets)
• 1 quart clear polyurethane (more if you are doing multiple cabinets)

Instructions

Staining New Cabinets

1. Remove the handles and hinges from the cabinets with the screwdriver. Set them off to the side. New cabinets that are unfinished are already in the condition needed to begin the staining process.

2. Stain all of the doors and set them off to the side. Stain the inside of the cabinets and any shelves that have come along with them. Set the shelves off to the side. Make sure when you are staining that you stay with the grain of the wood. The use of a foam brush will also eliminate streaking. Make sure you stain the doors on a flat surface. This may not be an option for the cabinets. When the cabinet doors are dry, stain the inside of the cabinet doors.

3. Stain the outside of the cabinets and allow them to dry for at least six to eight hours. When they are dry, rough the surface of the cabinets with 120-grit sandpaper. New cabinets will absorb a great deal of the stain. Do not overdo the sanding. They only need a gentle scraping to allow the second coat to stick and go on evenly. Apply the second coat of stain to the cabinets and allow to dry.

4. Stain the backside of the cabinet doors and allow them to dry with the newly stained side up. Apply polyurethane to the inside of the cabinet and the shelves. This will keep the luster of the stain and will protect the cabinets from scratches. Apply the polyurethane to the outside of the cabinet to prevent scratches. Let the polyurethane dry for at least four hours before you apply a second coat if needed.

5. Attach all of the hardware that you removed at the beginning. This may take a while depending on how many cabinets you are working on. After all of the hardware is in place, reattach the doors to the cabinets.

Staining Already Stained Cabinets

1. Remove the hardware from the cabinet. Set the pieces aside. Set aside the door. Remove all the shelves from inside the cabinets. Everything will need to be stained for a good job.

2. Sand the outside of the cabinet and the door with the 80 grit sandpaper using a light touch and circular strokes. Make sure not to miss spots because this will make the stain uneven. Avoid using any type of power sander. These require experience and a very light touch. Sand the door and the inside of the cabinets. Take the 120 grit sandpaper and use the exact same motions you used when sanding with the 80 grit sandpaper. This will leave the surface nice and smooth.

3. Remove the excess dust from the sanding by wiping with a damp cloth. Allow to dry.

4. Stain the front of the door and then stain the inside of the cabinet. After staining the door allow it to dry thoroughly with the stained side up. Stain the outside of the cabinet and the top of the shelves, setting them aside and allowing them to dry for at least six hours.

5. Stain the back of the cabinet door. Place with the freshly stained side up. Apply the polyurethane to the inside of the cabinets, the shelves and the cabinet exteriors. Allow to dry overnight.

   When all of the parts are completely dry, reattach the hardware and then hang the doors back on the cabinets.

References

• "The Complete Cabinetmaker's Reference"; Jeff Piontkowski; 1997
• "The Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture and Cabinet Construction"; Andy Rae; 2001
• "Popular Woodworking"; Danny Proulx; 2005