Expert: Eileen Cronk - 6/26/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have oak kitchen cabinets over 25 years old and they need to be refinished and my question is how to remove the lacquer-not varnish as I am pretty sure they used lacquer-they were custom built- and will that change the color of the cabinets? What do I use to remove the lacquer. I have removed varnish from chairs,etc but am not sure about lacquer. I would do just the door/drawer fronts if the color wouldn't change as that is where the finish is breaking down.
Thanks,
Mary

ANSWER: Hi Mary
Nice to hear from you.
I am hoping that this 25 year old lacquer will come off just fine with paint stripper.
Some newer lacquers will not.
The color after stripping the finish off will depend on if the cupboards were stained prior to applying the finish.
And really matching the stain color should not be a problem.
But I suggest you try one door first.
Strip it, and apply a test area with the finish.
See if the color suits then proceed.
Here is a stripper I recommend for this particular job.
http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=1694&familyN

Get back to me if needed
Regards
Eileen


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Will the color of the oak cabinets be different after removing the lacquer with lacquer remover or can I just redo the doors and not the rest of the cabinets?

Answer
Hi again Mary
Good question
It just depends on how much the wood has darkened over the 25 years.
And often you can stain to match the doors to the cabinets.
I don't feel lacquer thinner will work fast enough and its a lot more work using it over the stripper.
Once again I stress the test door.
You will know in short order if they will match.
Keep me posted
Regards
Eileen