Carpentry and Woodworking - Refinish oak cabinets
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shells
07-24-05, 11:55 PM
We just bought a home and don't like the oak cabinets in the kitchen, especially the grain. We were thinking of staining it with darker shade(cherry) or painting the cabinets so, the grain is less evident. Any suggestions or tips?
Hellrazor
07-25-05, 04:36 PM
Painting oak cabinets??? ugh. Send them to me and buy new ones :D
Hammylinky
07-26-05, 10:10 AM
You said you just bought the home. Live in it for a few months, or maybe even a year first. You want to make sure you make the right decision and don't regret it. :)
To get the desired effect of a new colored stain you would be best to strip the old cabinets down to the natural wood before applying the new stain. As for painting them, you should be able to find plenty of tips from other posts on this site.
To get the desired effect of a new colored stain you would be best to strip the old cabinets down to the natural wood before applying the new stain. As for painting them, you should be able to find plenty of tips from other posts on this site.
Herm
07-26-05, 01:02 PM
Grain in oak is going to be evident no matter how dark the stain is. Most people get oak because of that. I personally do not like it, although my shop is usually full of something made out of oak. Painting will hide the difference in color, but not the the texture. You will still see the texture of the grain.
Hammylinky's post suggesting stripping the old stain off, and applying a different color is a very arguous task. Unless you have lots of time on your hands, I wouldn't go that route. I agree with the living in the house for a while idea, to see if it grows on you, or at lease do more homework before trying anything.
Refacing the cabinets, and, replacing the doors with a species with less pronounced grain, or even smooth, painted MDF, or RTF doors might be the way to go.
Hammylinky's post suggesting stripping the old stain off, and applying a different color is a very arguous task. Unless you have lots of time on your hands, I wouldn't go that route. I agree with the living in the house for a while idea, to see if it grows on you, or at lease do more homework before trying anything.
Refacing the cabinets, and, replacing the doors with a species with less pronounced grain, or even smooth, painted MDF, or RTF doors might be the way to go.
mako
07-27-05, 07:56 PM
You have another option that is somewhere between "pain in the buttocks" and "that wasn't so bad".
As said before, the grain of oak will show through any paint. Restaining is also, as said, not to be taken lightly.
Personally, though it's pricey, I'd toss the doors completely. Then using a random orbit sander with 80-grit (or even 40 or 60) I'd strip the face frame (assuming these are face frames and not euros) down to bare oak, which is a major pain but not as bad as doing the doors also. Sand back to 120 or 150 grit, and use an appropriate grain filler. They have stain-grade grain filler which is clear, and a paint grade with isn't necessarily clear.
Order some doors that match your paint or stain color (cherry should stain sorta kinda similar to oak, as may mahogany, but both are $$$). I'm no fan of RTF doors, I've seen too many of them seperate, but for the price they aren't a bad deal.
As said before, the grain of oak will show through any paint. Restaining is also, as said, not to be taken lightly.
Personally, though it's pricey, I'd toss the doors completely. Then using a random orbit sander with 80-grit (or even 40 or 60) I'd strip the face frame (assuming these are face frames and not euros) down to bare oak, which is a major pain but not as bad as doing the doors also. Sand back to 120 or 150 grit, and use an appropriate grain filler. They have stain-grade grain filler which is clear, and a paint grade with isn't necessarily clear.
Order some doors that match your paint or stain color (cherry should stain sorta kinda similar to oak, as may mahogany, but both are $$$). I'm no fan of RTF doors, I've seen too many of them seperate, but for the price they aren't a bad deal.