Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - sanding raised panel doors

I am getting ready to tackle a restain on my kitchen cabinets including new hardware. I have done a bit of research and think that I know the steps. The cabinets are a honey oak with solid wood oak doors, they are raised panel. I am assuming that the cabinets sides are veneered. I am going much darker, probably a minwax dark mahogany. I will list the steps as I understand them

1 remove all doors and hardware
2 sand all cabinets and doors removing as much stain and poly as possible.
3 use a stripper to get the corners that sanding will not reach.
4 clean cabinets with acetone to prep for staining
5 apply stain with desired tool, rag, brush, foam pad and wipe.
re-apply to desired darkness.
6 apply poly, sand, apply poly, sand and then final coat of poly

Questions:

1 I have read that a gel stain would be better for this application. Yes or No ?
2 I have always used poly as a sealer. In a kitchen environment would poly, varathane or a varnish be best?
3 My main question is what is the best method at getting to the corners of a raised panel door. I want to remove as much stain as possible. I guess a stripper and a toothbrush, toothpick?

Sorry for the long post ! Any and all replies are appreciated. When I finish the kitchen I have matching base and an upper cabinet in the hall bath that will need the same treatment. Then new flooring in the kitchen and bath. The fun never stops. :wall:

Kevin

If you are staining a different color, you must get out all the old stain or you will have blotches. Not easy to do on raised panel doors. There are scrapers ground to fit small crevices and intricate trim. But all this usually involes large amounts of elbow grease.

Gel stains are usually more forgiving, giving a smoother even finish. And poly is one of the toughest finishes a homeowner can get. Factories use catalyized finishes, lacquers, etc., and lots of expensive drying equipment.

I'd use the stripper first, the sand - should be less work :thumbup:

As Bill said, you must remove all of the current finish/stain in order for your new stain to work properly. I also agree that an oil base poly is your best choice for the finish. Personally I don't like gel stains but it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks :D

As far as cleaning edges, corners, etc., I've used a brass bristle brush (about the size of a toothbrush) for years.

Make certain it's a brass and not stainless steel. Available at better hardware stores and paint stores.

Use with stripper.

Thanks for the replies. I am going to start this poject fairly soon. I expect that doing the work on days off that I will have the kitchen in a shambles for several weeks at best. If they don't come out looking good I can always come back and paint them. When they are finished we will have a marble or solid surface top put on.

Kevin