Technique for Brush Painting a Cabinet Door

Remove the cabinet door from its hinges using the screwdriver. Remove the door's handle. Fill any dents or holes in the door and allow the filler to dry completely.

Lightly sand the filler level to the rest of the surrounding surface, then sand the rest of the door to provide a surface for paint to adhere to. Use a brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to remove all traces of sanding dust.

Wash the cabinet door with a solution of warm water and mild detergent. Rinse with clean warm water and wipe each door dry. Allow the door to become completely dry before applying any primer.

Apply a coat of oil-based primer to the door. Oil-based primers and paints will provide a hard, washable finish. This is especially important if your cabinet is located in a kitchen or bathroom. Use an appropriate size of paintbrush for different sections of the surface. For example, use a small paintbrush on a narrow edge and a larger paintbrush on a wide panel. Allow the primer to dry and lightly sand the surface before applying a second coat. Allow this to dry and then lightly sand the surface once again.

Apply the first coat of oil based paint to the door, using the same appropriately sized paintbrushes you used to apply the primer. Check carefully for any runs in the paint and smooth them out. Allow the door to dry thoroughly, according to the time recommended on the paint tin. Lightly sand the surface, vacuum away sanding dust and apply a second coat of paint in the same way.

Screw the door handle back into position and re-hang the door once the paint is totally dry. Clean your paintbrushes with brush cleaner before washing them in mild detergent and warm water. Rinse the brushes thoroughly and allow them to air-dry before putting them away.