Painting a Wooden Cabinet So That the Paint Won't Chip

Ascertain whether water is leaking on or near the cabinet. Moisture is a common cause of peeling, cracking paint. If there is a leak, this should be fixed before attempting to paint. If the cabinet is in a humid area such as a bathroom, dehumidify the area before preparing to paint.

Strip the cabinet of any old paint or stain jobs. Lay down old newspapers under the cabinet to protect the area. Use a gel paint stripper. Keep the area well-ventilated, and paint the stripper onto the cabinet using wide, long strokes with a large paintbrush. Follow manufacturer's instructions for how long to leave the stripper on the cabinet. When enough time has elapsed, remove paint with a hand-held paint scraper. Keep scrapings on the newspaper, and dispose of when finished. Wash the brush and scraper with warm, soapy water.

Check that cabinet is clean. Remove any dust or dirt that settled while the cabinet dried after stripping. Open windows to ventilate the area, then sand the cabinet gently with fine-grade sandpaper. Gently sanding the surface of the wood helps the paint adhere.

Apply one coat of primer. Primer helps paint adhere and helps prevent chipping and peeling of paint. Paint on primer using long strokes that follow the grain of the wood. Allow primer to dry thoroughly before painting the top coats.

Paint long even strokes of color over the primer. Always follow the grain of the wood. Paint one coat, allow to dry, then paint a second coat. Two coats of paint are less likely to crack and peel than one, but painting over damp paint will encourage bubbling and peeling. Paint the second coat only after the first has completely dried.