Can You Restain Pickled-Wood Cabinets?

A Pickling Pickle

• Although commercial pickled finishes may all be similar, home versions of pickling vary. You need clues to the kinds of paint used for pickling in order to select the right paint remover. An informal survey of home-improvement stories and blogs reveals an assortment of formulas for pickling: water-based, oil-based and mixed media. Some professionals suggest you determine the kind of paint by rolling a chip between your fingers. A chip of oil-based paint is likely to be more brittle than a latex one. More effective, however, is the alcohol test. Soak the corner of a cloth in denatured alcohol or non-acetone nail-polish remover. Wipe a corner of the paint surface. Oil paint will show no reaction, but latex paint will come off or get sticky.

Stripping Finish

• Paint strippers come in liquid, gel, brush-on and spray-on forms. Because pickling involves rubbing paint into wood grain for emphasis, stripping may require more than one application, scraping and rubbing. Check the label of the stripper for the correct neutralizer, and have it on hand before you begin to work. Remove all cabinet hardware. Professional cautions include working in a well-ventilated space, wearing protective clothing and avoiding exposure to fumes. Heavier weight gels may be more effective than liquids because of the penetration of pickled finish into wood grain and pores. You'll likely have to undertake more than one round of stripping, sanding and scrubbing to remove all finish. If you do not want to strip cabinets yourself, consider having them professionally done.

Sanding

• Thorough sanding is required once you have removed pickled finish. Even professionally stripped cabinets will need a light, even sanding before you apply stain to ensure even penetration of stain. According to Dr. Leona Hawkes of Utah State University Extension, wood surfaces that still feel soapy or waxy once finish is removed may need soaking in turpentine or mineral spirits. This procedure removes the remainders of any silicone-based cleaner or furniture polish that was used on the cabinets.

Staining

• Wood-finishing professional Michael Dresdner notes that stain can sometimes be applied over a pickled finish that has only been sanded, but results may be muddy. Cabinets that have been thoroughly stripped can be stained like new wood. As with other staining projects, staying close to the shade and tone of the wood will likely produce better results than choosing a drastically different stain.