How to Paint Pre-Finished Oak Cabinets

Remove the hardware, such as hinges, drawer pulls and door knobs from the cabinets using a screwdriver. Set these aside until you are finished. This also removes the cabinet doors. Set the doors somewhere where you can easily work with them, such as on a table or over wooden horses.

Cover any surfaces you don't want to paint with painter's tape, such as along the wall where the cabinets are mounted. Painter's tape won't let paint seep under it while you are working and also won't pull the paint off when you remove it.

Sand the entire surface of the cabinets using 100-grit sandpaper. Sand again with 180-grit sandpaper followed by 220-grit sandpaper. This removes much of the previous finish and prepares it for painting.

Wipe all surfaces with a tack cloth to remove dust.

Wipe wood filler across all the oak surfaces you are painting. Use a putty knife to apply the filler evenly. This hides the oak grain when the paint is dry. After the wood filler dries, sand it lightly with fine sandpaper.

Wipe all surfaces with a tack cloth to pick up all the sanding dust and other debris.

Apply a water-based primer to the cabinets using either a small sponge roller or a paintbrush. Use a primer designed for covering wood. If the previous finish was an oil-based paint, choose a primer meant for covering oil-based paint, slick or glossy surfaces. These are often called adhesion primers. After the primer cures, apply a second coat. Consult the package instructions for curing times.

Paint the cabinet with 100 percent acrylic paint. This is a high-end latex paint designed to be flexible and water resistant. It works well in kitchens. After the paint cures, apply a second coat.

Put the hardware back on the cabinets after the paint is fully dried, according to the package instructions. This can take 48 to 72 hours depending on the type of paint used.