Re-finishing doors for kitchen cupboards and bath room vanity

**tedr48** · 27th October 2003, 01:14 PM

The doors for the kitchen cupboards and the bath room vanity units are MDF with white melamine on the inside and a woodgrain white vinyl on the outside. The vinyl has been coated with some sort of gloss coating. The sides of the kitchen cupboards also have vinyl on the outside but this has not been given the gloss coating.
The problem is that the gloss coating on the doors has undergone an uneven yellowing where cooking oil vapour and oils from peoples skin has come in contact with it near the door handles.
Worse still the side panels which have not been coated are still stark white making the yellowing on the doors really stand out.
Question.
Is there any way I can remove the yellow gloss coating without removing the vinyl????
I have been told by a door manufacturer, who obviously wants to sell me some doors, that the only solution is to replace the doors.
I have also been told by people who do urethan coating that they can't coat over the vinyl.
It seems such a waste to send the existing doors to the tip just because the coating has gone yellow.

**Shane Watson** · 27th October 2003, 06:33 PM

have you tried to cut & polsih it at all? it probably won't help but its worth a try.

**Justin** · 27th October 2003, 07:21 PM

I would suggest scrubbing them down with sugar soap, then applying white vinyl spraypaint.

You can get it from places that sell car accessories, it's usually used to spray vinyl seats in cars. When I was a poor apprentice many moons ago, my mates and I used it to dress up the seats in our cars, it worked fairly well. I would guess that it might be suitable for your application.

Cheers,

Justin.

**tedr48** · 27th October 2003, 07:24 PM

shane,
I have tried various solvents some of them soften the coating slightly but it is still a v difficult job to remove it and it still fills up the imitation wood grain in the vinyl. I've thought about using paint stripper but that would probably take the vinyl off as well.
Regards,
Ted

**tedr48** · 27th October 2003, 07:27 PM

thanks Justin,
I give the sugar soap a go to night. If it works do you have a few more details on the white vinyl paint? Like band names etc.
Regards,
Ted

**DarrylF** · 27th October 2003, 08:01 PM

I'd try the sugar soap. If it works, great - but if not, replace the doors if you can afford it. The vinyl coatings are designed to repel just about anything, and a painted surface will always look like a painted surface even if you get it to stick - ie. awful

Of course, spraying might be an option - assuming you can get something to stick, and you have the time, equipment & motivation.

Get a price on new vinyl wrapped doors - preferably direct from Polytech or one of the other manufacturers. A local outfit will likely buy them in and charge a premium anyway.

The other option - probably cheaper - might be to go to a cabinet shop supplier with your list of sizes, buy melamine ($39-60 a sheet 2440x1220mm) and have them cut & edge it. Perhaps less than $200 all up for an average kitchen if you go to the right place, and assuming you re-use your existing hinges & handles - especially if you drill for & mount your own hardware. There are options on edging too - the right places can give you a choice of edge profiles & edging type.

Good luck

**Justin** · 27th October 2003, 08:10 PM

Hi Ted,

Sorry, it was years ago and the brand name eludes me. Try looking in places like super cheap auto, or the auto section of places like Kmart or Target.

Cheers,

Justin.

**Shane Watson** · 28th October 2003, 07:26 AM

Like I said, try cutting & polishing. THis ain't got anything to do with solvents.
BY th sounds of it your determined to remove the gloss. Are you sure the gloss is a coating?? and not just a different gloss level of vinyl? Different gloss levels in vinyl wrapped doors are by no means uncommen.

**tedr48** · 28th October 2003, 09:27 AM

Tahnks Shane and DarrylF,
It's definitely coated because I've managed to remove a little bit on the bottom corner of one door and underneath it is exactly the same as the uncoated sides of the cupboards. I am not determined to remove the coating just get it to where it is all back to an even white with the doors looking the same colour and texture as the sides.
I don't think cutting and polishing will work because it will still leave the imitation wood grain in the vinyl filled with yellow coating.
From the replies so far it looks like replacing them may be the best option. I've now got a Polytech catalogue so I might be able to save some money by reusing the hinges and door handles. Still seems a waste to toss all the old doors out to the tip.
I still have to give the sugar soap a go which will probably have to wait until the weekend as the boss has some other jobs she wants done over the next couple of nights.
Thanks to all who have offered suggestions.
Regards,
Ted

**Barry_White** · 28th October 2003, 11:00 AM

Hi Ted,

My son-in-law recently coated some vynal chair coverings with some vynal paint. All it did was change the colour and left the grain in tact.

I don,t know the brand or anything but it worked very well. He is away in NZ at the moment and wont be back for 2 weeks.

Perhaps you could try the paint shops or hobby shops.

Regards

**tedr48** · 28th October 2003, 11:20 AM

Thanks Barry but I think I'll have to get the old coating off first.
Regards,
Ted

**tedr48** · 29th October 2003, 09:28 AM

To all who have offered suggestions on how to revitalise the finish on my kitchen and bathroom cupboard doors.
I tried the sugar soap last night and it is no more effective than any of the other solvents I've tried.
It looks like I had better atart getting some quotes for new doors and save some money by re-using the hinges and door handles.
Thanks to all who have offered help.
Regards,
Tedr

**Wood Borer** · 29th October 2003, 02:19 PM

Ted,

Why not make some doors? Even with basic tools you have the old doors to copy all the dimensions.

- Wood Borer

**wally a dog** · 22nd November 2006, 12:59 AM

Not sure if i am doing this correct but here goes.
Try some bi-carbonate of soda make up a bit of paste and apply to the grease/oil. then spray or sprinkle a bit of white vinegar onto it and use a soft nylon brush while it is fizzing and hopefully this will move the grease and oil.

**Barry_White** · 22nd November 2006, 08:59 AM

Wally

Welcome to the forum.

I am sure by now that Ted would have solved his problem as the thread is three years old.

It would probably have been better to post the tip in the Hints and Tips forum.

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