How to Reface a Crackle Cabinet

Remove the cabinet doors from the cabinet boxes. Use a drill to unscrew the hardware. Set the hardware aside to be replaced later.

Brush on a paint stripper to remove the crackle paint from the cabinets. Let the stripper stay on as directed and scrape the paint off with a scraper or putty knife. Repeat if needed to get as much paint off as you can.

Wash the cabinet boxes and doors off with water to remove the stripper chemicals. Let the wood dry overnight.

Sand the cabinet doors and cabinet boxes with a fine sandpaper to remove any remaining paint and rough spots.

Paint the wood with a primer, following the grain of the wood. Use paintbrushes to apply it. Do this only if you are painting the cabinets. If staining, apply a coat of wood stain along the grain. Let the cabinets dry for about four hours.

Paint the cabinets with your paint of choice if you primed them. Use an acrylic paint for durability. If staining, you can apply a second coat if needed. Let dry overnight. If a second coat of paint is needed, wait several days to allow the first coat to set up hard.

Apply a clear coat to the stained wood if that is what you chose, using a paintbrush. Let this dry overnight.

Sand the surface of the cabinets lightly with a fine-grit paper. Do this to the clear coat you applied over the stain or the first layer of acrylic paint that you have let harden for several days. Wipe the cabinets down once you are finished sanding.

Paint on a second layer of paint or apply a second layer of clear coat. Allow this to set up for two days and then reattach the doors with the hardware.