Expert: Eileen Cronk - 4/21/2008

Question
I have 14 year old cabinets that have not worn well.  I asked how to strip and restain, and after the answer I realize that this is to difficult of a job for me, so Is it possible to repair the damage to the lacquer finish and the wood without stripping it all?  The same person I asked the first question, was uavailable so I hope you can help?  thanks, Cindy

Answer
Hi Cindy
Nice to hear from you.
Yes I read your first answer and it was right on.
But lets not forget we are women and never give up easily LOL.
Your question to me is "can I repair the damage without stripping?"
My answer is "likely not" so we have no where to go but up from that.
So...Try this on a door as a test.
Clean well making sure there is no grease present. Use Mineral spirits and a steel wool pad as a scrubber to clean the door.
Next get a small can of minwax stain the same color as the existing color and apply this all over the door with a rag. Wipe back well.
Let dry. Could take 48 hours to dry.
Then wipe on a coat of low luster tung oil also with a rag.
I have no idea what the result of this will be as I have no idea of the existing damage but darn it all its worth a try.
You cannot of course change the color of the door this way, and the stain is only meant to ...Hmmm..refresh is a good word.
The oil will seal the stain.
Also why not try a test from start to finish as was suggested to you.
Get a small can of the correct stripper and do a door.
Then try staining. At this point you have no idea what the result will be. It could be you will like it, but maple is miserable stuff to stain.
I should say newer maple is miserable stuff to stain.
I have stripped and stained old maple furniture without any bad results, and it takes a stain very nicely (never could figure out why that is.)
And you know Cindy you may just luck out and find your cabinets
will take a nice stain.
But absolutely all the existing finish must be removed first.
Keep me posted
Regards
Eileen