Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Oak cabinets

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Expert: - 6/8/2011


Question
kitchen cabinets
kitchen cabinets
Hi Greg,
We will be moving to a re-sale home at the end of August. Our current kitchen was made to match the cabinets which are dark red/brown. I would like to be consistent with this look at whatever home we choose and would prefer not to spend thousands on refacing the cabinets.  I read that a coat of tinted polyurethane could darken the cabinets once cleaning them with TSP was done.  Can this be done without sanding?  Are most cabinets wood/pressboard construction? Can you please advise if this can be done without prior sanding? I can do anything, but sanding is my all-time least favourite thing to do.
Thanks, Greg.

Answer
Hi Patty, tinted polyurethane is NOT a good idea to apply to modern kitchen cabinets. They are finished with a catalyzed or conversion finish, that's super hard and tough, and should only be recoated with a compatible product, and NOT a consumer grade polyurethane. Cabinets are made of different quality materials, depending on price level, but usually they have solid wood doors, face frames, and drawer fronts, and then the carcases are comprised of some type of panel goods (plywood, etc).People have done all sorts of things to kitchen cabinets, some successful and some not, and I have seen and counseled a lot of people AFTER they have ruined their cabinets...but as a rule, this is not the realm of the DIY'er...these finishes really need to be sprayed, and 'toning' (applying a color tinted clear) can only change the original color a few shades, and needs to be done carefully, by someone skilled, to get Professional results that will look identical across a set of cabinets, and be durable.If one was to apply this type of toning, then a 'scuff' sanding would be part of the process, and fairly important, as such a hard finish needs the physical abrading to allow for good adhesion.Thorough cleaning and degreasing is also important. Kitchen cabinet finishes are usually guaranteed for 20+ years from the major companies, and their finishes represent the 'cutting edge' of finish technology, literally.Feel free to post back if need be,Regards- Greg

Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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