Expert: Eileen Cronk - 3/6/2007

Question
Thanks alot for the quick and helpful response. Do you happen to have any ideas like adding a one inch frame on the outside of the doors just to give them a different look or cutting a few doors with window type frames and putting stain glass (or plastic) in them. Just any creative ideas. Maybe I should wait to see the difference when they get stripped. The cabinets are so well made compared to new ones I couldn't imagine even replacing the doors.
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

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Currently have plain no design solid pine cabinets built in late 60's They have been varnished quite a bit. Just looking for ideas on how to give them a new look. I am already aware of painting them. i was just wanting to give a different look to the doors and looking for the most reasonable economical ways that I might consider. I would also like recomendations on best way of stripping them or would sanding them be better and quicker.

Thanks
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Hi Paul
Nice to hear from you.
In my opinion, I would only paint as an absolute last resort..you will be painting every couple of years and thats a miserable job.
The most reasonable economic way is to strip, restain and apply a good poly finish.
This will be time consuming, but worth the effort.
Here are the instructions
The first thing you must do is assemble the material to do the job.
The stripper is the most important item.
The stripper I use is my Home Hardware house brand, but I think that you would not have Home Hardware if you are in the states.
I am hoping you could have CIRCA brand paint and varnish remover there. Its great stuff.

MATERIAL LIST For the stripping stage.
1 gallon stripper
6 boxes of Bull Dog steel wool in medium grade.
One 3 inch oil based paint brush.
Rubber gloves (like you do dishes with)
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
That's all you need to get started…not much is it?
The stripper will be the most expensive item on the list..In Canada it runs around $25.00 a gallon. The stain and finish will only be around $20.00
HERES WHAT YOU DO...
Remove all doors and hardware and lay them on a flat surface to work on.
When I do cupboards, I just remove them as I am ready for them and it keeps things simpler.
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.
Use the toothbrush in crevices.
Do both sides of the door to make them like new inside and out.
Thats all there is to it ...move to another door and continue. Then do your drawer fronts one at a time.
No other prep is necessary, but because your cupboards are pine which is a soft wood, you may want to sand them. In the case of hardwood, I do not recommend sanding.
When the stripping is complete, stain with Minwax stain of your color choice. Even if you do not want color, apply a "minwax Natural stain"which is colorless. Do not omit this step as you will regret it in future.
The stain is applied with a rag..simple and fast.
Let dry at least 12 hours.
Then you have the option of using a water based poly which does not yellow over time like the oil based polys.
This is entirely your choice and both are good.
I would only use a low lustre poly on kitchen cupboards..never a high gloss as it shows every finger mark and drip.
Thats it Paul.
Please let me know if anything is not 100% clear.
Good Luck
Eileen  

Answer
Hi Again Paul
Sorry for the delay here but the PC was down.
I agree if the cabinets are well made, don't replace.
There are lots of different trims available that you could add as borders around the doors, but do wait to see how they look after stripping.
I especially like your idea about putting some glass in some doors.
I have a cheap way to accomplish this as we did it at my sons.
Simply get regular window glass and have it sandblasted.
That way you cannot see inside the cupboards but you have this wonderful clouded glass.
I had a friend who made headstones for graves and he did this for me in minutes, so don't let anyone tell you glass cannot be sandblasted..it can.
Should be fairly easy to cut panes in these doors.
Keep me posted.
Regards
Eileen