Refinishing already stained kitchen cabinets?
i'm thinking about refinishing my kitchen cabinets, but i'm alittle unsure on go about it. they are about 20 years old and made of solid wood... although i have no idea what kind of wood. they have been stained a dark stain but because they are old and in the kitchen... the stain has worn in some areas and is also pretty dirty in other areas. what i'd like to do is not have to strip the wood. it would be such a 'pita' to have to do this, so i'm trying to get advice on if i can get away with finishing ontop of this stain... and if so, how can i do it? i found a minwax stain and poly in one at home depot that almost matches my current stain perfectly. so i was thinking about using some product to clean the wood really good... then using this minwax over the top. would this work? if so, what product to you suggest for cleaning the cabinets before applying the minwax? also, how much of the old stain will show through using the minwax stain and poly in one? will the cabinets take one more of the new stain color, or will the old stain leak through and be more dominant? i was thinking about applying probably two coats of the minwax stain and poly in one... then going back over that with just the poly... either one or two more coats of that. would that be a good idea to further seal it with just poly?... or is that overkill? and lastly, what type of poly do you suggest for kitchen cabinets... satin or gloss? i was thinking satin... but i prefer gloss... although i'm afraid that gloss would be too overbearing. thanks for any help and suggestions. they are very much appreciated Clean the cabinets with TSP. Applying the mix will make the dark somewhat darker. After a second coat, it all may come together. You are adding a fixed quantity over a variable surface, some wear worse in some areas than in others. You may get variable results. What you are doing is more akin to painting than staining. I like gloss for cabinets, but every has a preference. They are your cabinets. The poly in the mix will usually be enough protection. I would apply at least two, preferably three coats. Poly goes on thin, and cabinets get a lot of wear. If you get the color you want, apply extra coats of just poly to get the protection you want. Hope this helps. is TSP a brand or type of specific product? and can i purchase it at home depot? thanks TSP is trisodium phosphate. Usually it is available at HD and lowes and such. Potent cleaner - degreaser. Again.....I would suggest looking into purchasing an Antiquing Kit. It will cover much better. thanks phantom for the suggestion... but what will the antiquing kit do for me? i'm not familiar with this kit, but am very interested in learning more. what are the benefits of this versus refinishing it with the stain and poly in one? thanks again. Contact your local Paint Suppliers.They may have to order it for you.Hopefully they are still available.But if not,they should be able to give you the instructions to make your own Antiquing Kit. Some years ago,I did purchase such a kit just to try it out.It came with two paint colors.One dark and one lighter.Also it included a graining tool which was used to create a fake grain.The idea was great,because you could apply to to most anything.The paint colors were real thick,and they covered very well.If I remember right,I applied the dark color first.Let it dry,then applied the lighter color ,then used the graining tool to make my grain.As I moved the tool over the wood,it revealed some of the darker color thus making the grainI experimented with newspaper made into a ball and also stiff plastic brushes.I'm sure there are other things you can use to make your grain.I am not sure what type of paint it was,but your paint supplier should know.An antique Dealer or Craft Store or Decorator may know.Some one on this forum may know.I have seen some furniture that was finished using an Antiquing Kit,and you had to look real close to notice that it was faked grain.I don't beleive in finishing over a finish,BUT...If I had to...This is the way I would go... PloyShades is about the worst piece of **** that you can use on wood for finishing. It leaves it very streaky and if you don't apply it in time it will also gum up and look. ew PolyShades was meant for the weekend warior who doesn't know anything about finishing wood. It's well worth learning use Oil Based Stains and Minwax Polyurathane after you apply the stain. READ THE DIRECTIONS! sweet... thanks again phantom... i'm defenitley going to look into that. The Antiquing Kit I was talking about is not a poly shade.I personally don't have any use for poly shade.It's a joke...and it should be removed from the market.I don't use it and I sure don't recommend it...I have seen furniture with fake grain applied,especially to factory finished inferior furniture,and unless you don't know any better,you could be fooled...I do not beleive in taking short cuts either...BUT...Unfortunally people don't want to spend the time to do it the right way.I believe if the antiquing is done correctly it will offer the lay man an alternative.And the person who started this trend should at lease check it out.. We live in such a fast paced world now, that at times it makes it hard to be able to take the time to do things the right way. Me, being a custom furniture manfuactuer, my house is like the old sayings go. A painters house is never painted A shoe makers children never have shoes And so on. I'm a one person shop in 3,500 sq ft and It makes it very hard for me to find time to not only do projects for my home, let alone time to myself. I don't care how LITTLE time I have, I will NEVER and I mean NEVER use Poly Shades They should have called it Cheap Ways Not Poly Shades Everyone wants the quickest, easiest, cheapest way to do things, but when it looks like garbage, they all complain and ask WHY?
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