Expert: Eileen Cronk - 1/10/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Eileen,

My white pickeled wood kitchen cabinets have turned yellow over the years and I would like to refurbish them.  Can you please provide me with very specific instructions on how I should approach this project.

Thanks very much,
Diane

ANSWER: Hi Diane
Nice to hear from you.
Unfortunately the top coat applied to your white cabinets has yellowed.
There is no fix other than a complete stripping of the finish.
Its a huge job. Not for the faint hearted and results cannot be assured.
Get back to me if you are really determined.
Kind Regards
Eileen

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

QUESTION: Thank you for your response Eileen.  Do I have an option of painting over the oil based poly surface with white paint without stripping the wood?  Someone told me that there are products on the market that you paint onto wood surfaces that prevent you from having to sand them.   Is this an option if I am able to paint the cabinets?

Answer
Hi again Diane
Yes you can paint over this surface but you must create a surface so the new paint will stick.
All I can tell you about this product you mention is this.
Krylon now makes a paint that requires no sanding.
I have never used this but I intend to try it in the spring.
To date all I have seen is spray cans of this paint but we have a small village hardware and get things later than big stores.
Another method which requires no sanding is a scrub with TSP and steel wool. This will produce a surface that will accept paint.
It will remove dirt and grease too, and I feel even with this "no sanding" paint this is necessary.
If you ask what I would do, it's the TSP scrub and a regular paint job. This is too big a job to mess with.
Good Luck
Kind Regards
Eileen