Expert: Eileen Cronk - 1/27/2009

Question
QUESTION: Eileen,
Have just purchased a 1950's house with original knotty pine cabinets.  Would like to keep them, but they need some help!  There are gouges, from fingernails, I assume, where the handles are.  Can this situation be fixed, and if so, how?  (Wood putty?) Then what?  Stripping or sanding, and what do you recommend for restaining/resealing?

Thanks,
Nancy

ANSWER: Hi Nancy
Nice to hear from you.
These old cupboards should refinish beautifully.
First they will need to be completely stripped with an MC stripper.
You will need to remove the doors and all the hardware to do this.
The worse part will be stripping the cases but with the correct stripper it will be easier. You will ask for an MC stripper that clearly states on the can "clings to vertical surfaces".
After the stripping you sand.
If you don't own a random orbit sander I recommend you get one.
It will save you hours of work and they are not expensive.
I would start sanding with 120 grit sanding discs. If you use a coarser disc, you run the risk of leaving tiny scratches that often don't show themselves until the stain is applied.
After a good sanding with 120 grit, a final sand with 220 grit.
You will find that a lot of the scratches will be gone but not all the gouges. It will be your own personal preferance as to how far you want to take the restoration of this old pine but personally I would not use filler. I just don't like the look of it, but if you don't mind it thats fine.
Possibly look for replacement handles which will hide a lot of the damage in that area.
Because this is pine and it can be prone to blotching, I would first use a pre-stain conditioner. This is wiped on with a rag.
Then apply your stain. I would use Minwax oil stain.
But for gosh sakes do lots of tests with the color. Don't go dark.
Get several tiny cans chosen from the Minwax color charts. Try them in a tiny area on a door back. And remember the color you see in the chart will not always be the color you get. It just depends on the wood. Thats why its so important to test.
After the staining, you can choose oil based or water based poly.
The water based does not yellow over time. Both are the same as far as durability goes.
Three coats with sanding between.
Thats it.
Get back to me if this is not clear.
Regards
Eileen

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

QUESTION: In your opinion, how long will this process take?

ANSWER: Hi Again Nancy
How long the job will take depends of course on how many feet of cupboards you have.
I was thinking about your job today (I do that on occasion LOL).
I think you can easily strip 1 door in 30 min. (front and back must be stripped).
I think you can strip 1 drawer in 15 min. (just the front of course).

You can easily sand 1 door in 15 min.
You can easily sand 1 drawer in 15 min.

You can apply the conditioner to 1 door in 15 min (wipe on with a rag on both sides)
You can apply the conditioner to 1 drawer in 15 min.

You can apply the poly to 1 door in 15 min. (both sides)X 3 coats
You can apply the poly to 1 drawer in 15 min. X 3 coats

So far I calculate an hour and 3/4 per door from start to finish.
So far I calculate an hour and 1/2 per drawer from start to finish.
But thats not including light sanding between processes so heres my final calculation LOL
Allow 2 hours for each door
Allow 1 3/4 hours for each drawer (an overestimate)

You should be able to strip 4 feet of cases in an hour and sand.
You should be able to apply the 4 coats (1 conditioner & 3 coats poly) in 2 hours (easily).
So thats 3 hours work for each 4 feet of cases (an over estimate)

So get your pencil out Nancy and get an idea of a time frame.
I have overestimated the drawer time but it could take you a bit longer than my estimate on the doors but I wanted to keep my figures rounded LOL.
I really want to know your estimate.
Get back to me.
Regards
Eileen




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

QUESTION: Eileen, bviously I didn't make myself clear.  I'm wondering about how long to wait between steps.  Can you strip and sand immediately, or do you need to wait?  How long should we wait between coats of stain and then poly?
Thanks for being so detailed....sorry my question wasn't clear.
Nancy

Answer
Hi Again Nancy
You can strip and sand and stain (one after the other if your up for it).
Wait at least 12 hours after staining. Then apply a coat of poly.
When the poly is dry to the touch you can apply another coat but if I apply a coat one day I wait till the next morning to apply another.
Good Luck
Eileen