How to Refinish a Kitchen Cabinet (April 11, 2009)

If the kitchen is the most-used room in the house, then you can probably say that the kitchen cabinet is the most-used thing in that room. With time and repeated cleanings, they can end up looking pretty shabby.	You might consider refurbishing them with a combination coating and stain; it's both easy and inexpensive. While it's possible to refinish cabinets with the doors in place, you'll get better results by detaching the doors from the cabinets...	...taking out all the shelves...
...and removing the knobs or handles.	Finally, remove the door hinges, and you're ready to start on the refinishing itself.	Kitchen cabinets invariably accumulate cooking oil on their surfaces, especially those near the stove. Mineral spirits, found in any hardware store or home center, does a good job of cleaning off that residue.
To use the spirits, dampen a soft cloth with a solvent and go over the surface two or three times, turning the cloth as you go. You'll usually be able to see the grime you've picked up.	Now you'll do some light sanding with fine 220-grit paper. By folding a quarter sheet of sandpaper into thirds like this, you can use every bit of it.	On flat surfaces, press down evenly with your fingers and use long, straight strokes, always moving in the direction of the grain to avoid unsightly scratches.
To sand moldings and trim, use individual fingers so the sandpaper will conform to the curved profiles. Finally, remove all surface dust with a clean rag or tack cloth.	Your cabinets may have some really serious wear spots where not only the finish, but also the color, is gone. A touch-up pen like this can help restore some of this missing color.	Touch-up pens come in a variety of wood tones and are used just like a felt marker. Let the color dry for a few seconds, then wipe off the excess and blend in the edges.
Now it's time for to apply the finishing material. This is a combination stain and polyurethane. It's very common for the pigments to settle to the bottom of the can, so always stir thoroughly and pull the pigments up from the bottom as you go.	When properly mixed, the stirring stick should come out clean. Avoid shaking finishes like this, because doing so introduces air bubbles into the liquid that can end up as pinholes on the surface when the coating dries.	Load your brush with finish and begin by coating the details in the panel. Then move on to the flat surfaces. Keep in mind that you're applying both color and top coat. The key is to put down a smooth, even film and not to overbrush.
If you want a more intense color, don't try to pile on too much material at one time. You're much better off applying a second coat after the first one dries. Always use a good-quality brush with plenty of fine bristles that are securely attached into the ferrule; nothing is more annoying, especially with a combination stain and top-coat, than having to pick out bristles in the newly-lain finish.	Finish off with long, straight parallel strokes in one direction, a technique painters call, striking off. Finally, after letting the finish dry thoroughly, reinstall the doors with new hinges ¡ª and put on new knobs.	Here's before and after, and all for only a few dollars.

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