Thread: Help to restore tassie oak kitchen cabinets

Hi all, I have been doing a little searching and found that the best way to clean the cabinets is using metho and water, as this doesn't harm the existing laquer/wood - I seem to be getting good results....so any ideas about what to do next?
Cheers,
Heidi

Being only 11yo, they're probably finished with a modern PolyU or 2-pack finish and applying a new coat over either of these can be difficult. Especially when you're not sure exactly what the finish is.

How is the basic condition of the finish after you clean it? Good? Battered? Back to bare wood in spots?

Thanks for your reply - there are several areas where it is back to bare wood - these were visible prior to cleaning. It looks like the initial lacquer has flaked off along the grain of the wood, kind of like splinters...sorry for the terrible description. One of the cabinet doors has this splintered effect all over it.

Ah. Personally, I'd sand the whole thing back to bare wood and apply a new finish - probably a Danish Oil as that's easy to fix in case of future mishaps. It's a lot more work but ends up with possibly the best result for the least potential headaches.

But if you'd rather just lightly sand & recoat over what's already there, then first try applying a sample somewhere out of the way and not obvious... like on the back of a cupboard door. That way you'll know whether the new stuff is compatible with the the old. Well... in the short term at least.

Keep an eye out for "orange peeling" or the finish clumping like oil on water. Not good signs.

Yeah, if it's had Mr Sheen used on it there may be traces of silicone which mess up a simple light sand and recoat. And if you have bare wood it's prob grey which will need to be sanded away.

Do the doors have mouldings?

If so sanding back to bare timber will take some time.

Like Skew I'd be inclined to go the whole hog for the best result but there's a lot of work in that. If this is how you jump look at using a chemical stripper to start with.

Thanks for your help guys, sounds like the best way to go is to sand it right back, and yes, there are a few grey areas on the wood (I am assuming this is due to sun damage from where the laquer is no longer there). I will head on down to the paint shop and see if I can find the stuff you have suggested,
Thanks!