Expert: Eileen Cronk - 11/4/2007

Question
I would like to stain my kitchen cabinets, the doors are birch and the frames are maple. The previous owners spackled, painted and I think glazed them. I tried paint remover, nothing happened. Now I am trying to just sand the stuff off. The color looks like a white wash but but it is very light like a very thin coat of paint. I don't know, but what is the best way to remove this stuff? I don't mine sanding I hate using stain remover. Help.....
Linda in Georgia

Answer
Hi Again Linda
The depot or large places like that probably don't carry the Circa.
Try the hardware stores or paint stores.
Regards
Eileen
Hi Linda
Nice to hear from you.
Gosh I don't know why people do this to wood LOL
Now you are left with a big job.
Things are just going through my head as I read your letter Linda, so I'll just throw them out.
First it sounds like there was no finish on the cabinets when they applied this stuff as the stripper should have removed their paint plus the original finish.
Next I will question the type of stripper you may have used. It could be the culprit.
Try Circa 1850 brand paint and varnish remover.
Next if there was no finish, and they applied this stuff to the bare wood, it may never come off without very aggressive sanding.
The maple sections will not have absorbed the paint as badly as the birch because its so dense, but its going to be hard getting it off.
So it looks like the answer to your question is first get the stripper going, then agressive sanding.
A huge job, but not insurmountable if you just do a bit each day.
If you lived close I would come and help...well maybe not LOL
Kindest Regards
Eileen