Craftsman cabinets often feature exception joint work, such as dovetails and tongues and groove..
Craftsman-style cabinets are known as such because the craftsmanship of the wood is what shines through. Cabinets in this style are free of fussy adornments; they often lack hardware. They are highlighted only by simple decorations such as raised border trim. Often, homeowners who are not fond of this style may attempt to camouflage their cabinets by painting over them so they do not draw attention. To restore your craftsman style cabinets to their original glory, refinish them using a traditional stain, such as oak or walnut. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Pour the paint stripper into a clean container with a screw-on lid for easy disposal. Apply the paint stripper thickly to the cabinets with a medium-size natural-bristle paintbrush. Be careful not to apply so much stripper that it splatters or drips.
2. Let the stripper sit for 15 minutes or until you can see that the surface of the cabinets has stopped peeling and blistering. Scrape off all the old finish with a straight-edge paint scraper. For stubborn areas, rub the cabinet gently with a wad of steel wool.
3. Wipe the cabinets thoroughly with a clean rag to remove residual paint stripper. Switch to a new rag and dampen it well with denatured alcohol. Rub this rag all over the cabinet surfaces you intend to stain.
4. Sand the cabinet surfaces evenly everywhere with a random orbital sander fitted with a 120-grit sanding disk. Rub the cabinets down with tack cloths to remove the sanding dust. Apply one layer of the new stain to the cabinets thinly using a clean paintbrush and blot off the excess with a clean rag.
5. Apply a second coat of stain to deepen the color, if you wish. Let the cabinets dry for 24 hours. Spray clear polyurethane finish over all of the cabinets and let them dry for 24 to 48 hours before using them.
Tags: paint stripper, cabinet surfaces, this style, with clean