Painting a Lacquered Pine Kitchen Cabinet

Preparation

• 1

  Remove the cabinet doors and drawers from the frames using a screwdriver or power drill. Set the hardware pieces in a plastic storage bag for safekeeping.

• 2

  Remove items from countertops, cabinets and drawers and set them away from the painting area. Place a drop cloth on the floor and countertop areas under the cabinets as well as in a well-ventilated area, such as a back patio or garage. Set the cabinet doors and drawers on the drop cloth in the well-ventilated area. Tape off the area where the cabinet frame meets the wall with a 2-inch-wide strip of painter’s tape.

• 3

  Wear a face mask, safety gloves and goggles when working with varnish remover because of the harsh chemicals. Apply a thin coat of varnish remover to the surface of the cabinet frames, doors and drawers using a small paintbrush. Remove lacquer from only one side of the cabinet doors at a time. Allow the varnish remover to sit for the time listed on the manufacturer’s instructions, which typically ranges from 15 to 45 minutes. The lacquer will begin to bubble as the remover starts to work.

• 4

  Strip the lacquer from the cabinet surfaces using a plastic putty knife. If the lacquer does not lift easily, allow the remover to stay on for an additional 10 minutes. Some cabinets require two applications of the paint remover before all of the lacquer is stripped away.

• 5

  Sand the surface of the cabinets using 120-grit sandpaper to remove any additional lacquer and even out the surface of the wood.

• 6

  Wash the surfaces clean with a solution of warm water and trisodium phosphate (TSP). Mix the TSP according to the manufacturer’s instructions. TSP is a heavy-duty cleanser found in hardware stores next to the paint. Allow the cabinets to dry.

Painting

• 7

  Roll on a thin coat of primer using a paint roller. For edges and hard-to-reach corners, apply the primer using the 2-inch paintbrush. Allow the cabinets to dry overnight.

• 8

  Use a semigloss latex paint in the color of your choice to paint the cabinets. Semigloss paint is best for cabinets because of its durability, easiness to clean and resistance to mold and mildew in high-moisture areas such as bathrooms and kitchens.

• 9

  Allow cabinets to dry overnight before reattaching hardware and installing doors and drawers.