Once your cabinets are clean and dry, use a 100 or 150-grit sandpaper to roughen up the surface of the cabinets. Cabinet paint won't adhere properly to a smooth or shiny surface. You don't need to completely remove the prior finish, just rough up the surface enough to give the primer something to stick to.
WHAT SIZE GRIT SHOULD I USE FOR SANDING CABINETS? If you're removing old paints or finishes, you'll need to start with a coarser grit, like 100 or 120, to remove more material. As you remove the old layers, you'll work up to a finer grit, such as 180, and follow it up with a very fine 220 grit.
Use an electric hand sander with a heavier grit sandpaper for the first sanding. Wipe all the dust particles off, and then sand again with a finer sandpaper, about 220 grit. This will prepare the wood for the stain.
Before your final coat of paint, gently sand your cabinets using 300-400 grit sandpaper. This super-fine sandpaper will knock down any brush strokes and roller marks to give you a super smooth surface to work with. Be sure your paint brush is clean and the bristles are smooth.
Do you need to sand cabinets before painting? Skipping this time-consuming step is a surefire way to lead to a messy finished product. Sanding helps fresh paint adhere to surfaces and will help prevent chipping down the line. It's also better to sand twice (first to remove old paint, then to smooth out the wood).
As you would in any other project, sand in the direction of the wood grain until you have the cabinets surfaces are smooth and even. Along the way, you may wish to repair any imperfections (cracks or scratches) that you notice in the wood. Finish up by sanding the cabinets again, this time with 150- to 220-grit paper.
It's almost always better to strip than to sand. To begin with, except in cases where the old finish is flaking off, it's a lot more work to sand than to strip using a paint-and-varnish remover.
Sand Cabinets to Prepare for Painting
Use a fine-grit sandpaper and sand until the wood is smooth to the touch. Use a shop vac to remove any visible dust. Then, be sure to wipe away any remaining dust or debris with a clean cloth before moving on to the next step.
You should sand cabinets before beginning your how to paint kitchen cabinet project to give the new paint a good surface to grip. But you don't need to sand to bare wood.
Always sand down before applying any layer of paint. Sanding can remove any stray brush marks and smooth the surface so that your next layer of paint coats smoothly.
But if having kitchen cabinets that are long-lasting and durable, we'd suggest opting for a gloss finish. Even though both satin and semi-gloss finishes are both durable, both have minor disadvantages that gloss does not have. At the end of the day, the finish that you choose is a personal preference.
If your cabinets are so worn that they need major repairs before painting, it might be a sign that you should be replacing them altogether. Note: While you don't have to sand before you prime, you do need to sand lightly after you prime and between each coat of paint.
Clean– lastly, after sanding, you'll give your cabinets one final cleaning. No need to degrease, just a good wipe down to ensure you have removed all the dust and small particles. If you're working outside, I love to use my leaf blower for this, followed by wiping with a tack cloth.
Wood cabinets are ideal for painting, but any surface that can be scuffed with sandpaper can be painted. Laminate cabinets require a special bonding primer. The laminate must be in good condition for best results. A gloss finish will make your cabinets sheen, but it may show a lot of dings or mistakes.
Paint the cabinet boxes
If you're using roughly the same shade as the existing color, two coats ought to do the job. You might even get away with one. Painting over a dark finish with a light color is tougher and could require three coats. Break out a new brush for each coat.
We asked four woodworkers and four home improvement editors the same question: “What is the best sander to buy for finishing cabinets”. And we got a unanimous response: “Buy a random orbital sander.” All in all, there's really nothing “wrong” with square-based, orbital finishing sanders.
Chalk paints have become an increasingly popular choice for kitchen and bathroom cabinets thanks to their superior coverage, low VOCs, and durability. Many people view chalk paint as one of the best paints for cabinets, as it requires little to no prep work before you can get started.
On the fronts and backs of drawers and doors, you can use a roller. This will apply the paint in a more smooth and even manner and is much faster than only using a paint brush. Then, use a brush for touching up small areas or for hard-to-reach spots.