Painting kitchen cabinets is a simple and affordable DIY project that requires careful planning and preparation. To begin, decide whether to paint inside the cabinets, remove doors and hardware, clean and prepare, prime the cabinets, paint, let dry, apply a second coat, and allow the cabinets to cure. A flat painting surface is crucial for refinishing the kitchen, and it is essential to give yourself plenty of time.
Start by working clockwise or counterclockwise, remove cabinet hinges, doors, drawers, and hardware from one end of the kitchen. If painting only the interior, use a drill or manual screwdriver to work clockwise or counterclockwise. Allow the cabinets to fully dry for a day or two before reattaching pulls and knobs.
Time the painting process right, choosing a week when temperatures are moderate. Avoid hot weather as it will cause the paint to dry before it can completely level itself, leaving ridges caused by brush ridges. Use a high-quality, durable paint specifically designed for kitchen cabinets, and allow the first coat to dry completely.
Finish the inside of the cabinets with shellac, which is fairly benign and will dry without an odor but can be damaged by alcohol. In this tutorial, four different techniques are covered to finish plywood cabinets inside and out, including sealing plywood, edge banding, and filling plywood edges.
For the interior of the cabinets, clear polyurethane is used, while the exterior of only one cabinet carcase is finished with clear polyurethane. Seal the wood with an approved sealer for your desired finish, and sand the surfaces. For kitchen cabinet interior parts, use 2 cut shellac, while for exterior parts, use a finish with a KCMA certification.
📹 How to Easily Mask and Finish a Cabinet
When I first went full time as a custom woodworker finding the right methods to finish projects was my biggest learning curve.
📹 Should I Paint The Inside & Underside of My Kitchen Cabinets?
The video addresses the question of whether to paint the inside and underside of kitchen cabinets. The speaker explains that the inside of cabinets often has a durable surface that doesn’t need refinishing, but the edges may need to be painted. The speaker also discusses the practical reasons for painting the underside of cabinets, depending on visibility and personal preference.
One item you might try instead of 220 sand paper is the scotch brite pads. The work amazingly on finishes for that scuff sand to remove nibs and dust and it won’t cut thru on the corners (unless you really dig in), plus it won’t load like sandpaper does. All that is needed is to blow it out with your air hose.