How to Get Lacquer and Stain off of Cabinets

No matter how you are going to refinish you cabinets, the process first requires you to remove the old lacquer and stain. This is especially important if you have many layers of paint or stain on the cabinet, which can blur fine wood detail. Chemical paint strippers are very caustic and toxic, but they will work efficiently to remove even very old lacquer and stain from cabinets. Chemical paint strippers are particularly effective in stripping cabinets with a lot of crevices and details.

Screwdriver
Gloves
Goggles
Respirator
Paint stripper
Paintbrush
Paint scraper
Steel wool
White vinegar (optional)
Sprayer (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the cabinet doors and lay them on a workspace. Lay drop clothes under the doors as well as in the area under the cabinets.
- 2
  Put on gloves, goggles and a respirator to protect yourself from the paint stripper. Make sure the area is ventilated properly.
- 3
  Brush a thick layer of paint stripper into all of the lacquered and stained areas on the cabinet. Let it sit according to the manufacturer's directions. Apply a second coat of paint stripper if the manufacturer calls for it and let it sit. You will notice the paint begin to bubble and peel up.
- 4
  Scrape the paint stripper and the bubbled coating up with a paint scraper. Work until the entire cabinet it free of lacquer and stain.
- 5
  Rub a piece of steel wool in detailed areas of the wood to remove embedded lacquer and stain.
- 6
  Spray white vinegar over the entire cabinet if you used a caustic paint stripper that called for this step. These paint strippers need to be neutralized before you can apply any other type of finish.

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