Expert: Eileen Cronk - 10/23/2009

Question
Hello Eileen.

My husband and I have totalled messed up!  We have put Minwax Wood Finsh, english chestnut stain over 1960 (non-raised) old fashioned pecan colored cabinets.  The results were near what we wanted so we thought.  We were trying to get the darker look. However, we did not realize that you had to strip, sand and all the above, first.  Now we need your advice as to what to do next.  It seems as though we are going to have to strip down or sand down what we've done since the coat we applied isn't aborbsing, to the natural wood before we can get started again.

Answer
Hi Nita
Nice to hear from you.
Yes, as you have found out, you must strip down to bare wood before restaining.
But even at that, you cannot always get the desired color.
Its because some wood will not absorb stain well.
But before going gung ho at the stripping, do only one test piece first. Perhaps a drawer.
Strip it, stain it and apply your finish so you know exactly what the outcome will be.

Here are the stripping instructions.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR STRIPPING
The first thing you must do is assemble the material to do the job.
The stripper is the most important item.  
I am hoping you can get "CIRCA 1850" brand paint and varnish remover in your area.
Here is a link
http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=1694&familyN...

MATERIAL LIST For the stripping stage.
1 quart stripper
1 boxes of Bull Dog steel wool in medium grade.
One 3 inch oil based paint brush.
Rubber gloves (like you do dishes with), and a pair of cotton gloves inside the rubber ones.
People react differently to stripper. A lot of people feel heat through the rubber gloves, but I feel cold. Have no idea why.
An empty large coffee can. (for the stripper)
A couple of old tooth brushes.
Lots of old rags (I like t-shirts or cotton but for this first stage whatever you have)
Lots of newspaper to protect the garage floor
LOTS OF VENTILATION..A MUST
That's all you need to get started.
HERES WHAT YOU DO...
Work in sections.
Brush on the stripper with the brush. Stripper will quit working if it dries, so keep it wet till the finish softens.
Then take a rag and wipe this mess off.
Then another coat of stripper, rag off again, then while the wood is still wet, take the steel wool and rub with the grain till the wood is nice and clean.
Depending on the material you are removing, another coat of stripper is often needed but you will know this as you progress into the job.
Use the toothbrush in crevices.
Thats all there is to it ...move to another section and continue.
No other prep is necessary...no sanding should be necessary unless there is wood damage.
When the stripping is complete, stain and apply your poly finish.
Please let me know if anything is not 100% clear.

And Nita will you get back to me?
I am anxious to hear the test result.
Kind Regards
Eileen