Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - kitchen cabinets
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01-14-01, 02:18 PM
Your answer to refinishing cabinets is not exactly applicable to my cabinets. I have cabinets made of birch wood, stained with Minwax Early American and topped with
polyurethane. I would like to go to a cherry finish unless
this would be a long, tedious process whereby the cabinets would have to be completely redone. Is there a way to do this without going to totally stripping them? If so, staying with the Early American color will be ok; however,
I would want to restore them to their beautiful luster as when they were installed. Thank you.
polyurethane. I would like to go to a cherry finish unless
this would be a long, tedious process whereby the cabinets would have to be completely redone. Is there a way to do this without going to totally stripping them? If so, staying with the Early American color will be ok; however,
I would want to restore them to their beautiful luster as when they were installed. Thank you.
George
01-14-01, 05:18 PM
Martha:
A color change such as you would like would mean stripping the cabinets. On a lighter color it might have been possible to apply a glaze over the existing finish to alter the color toward cherry, then finish over that.
It is possible to rejuvenate the cabinets with their existing color. The surfaces need to be sanded (220 grit wet/dry paper) lubricated with water. You don't need to (and don't want to) remove the finish entirely - just scuff it up for a new finish to adhere. Dry thoroughly, removing all sanding debris, then apply a polyurethane in the sheen of your choice.
In order to see what kind of work you're getting into with a minimum investment in time and materials you might want to try a door face first.
A color change such as you would like would mean stripping the cabinets. On a lighter color it might have been possible to apply a glaze over the existing finish to alter the color toward cherry, then finish over that.
It is possible to rejuvenate the cabinets with their existing color. The surfaces need to be sanded (220 grit wet/dry paper) lubricated with water. You don't need to (and don't want to) remove the finish entirely - just scuff it up for a new finish to adhere. Dry thoroughly, removing all sanding debris, then apply a polyurethane in the sheen of your choice.
In order to see what kind of work you're getting into with a minimum investment in time and materials you might want to try a door face first.