How to Take the Grain Out of Cabinets

Empty the cabinets and remove the cabinet hinges, handles and knobs with a screwdriver. Set the hardware aside in a safe place for later then move the cabinet doors and drawers to a separate work area to minimize mess in the kitchen.

Apply painter's tape over any surfaces on the cabinet drawers and doors you want to keep intact. Tape strips or sheets of newspaper onto larger areas to protect them.

Strip the cabinets and drawers down to the bare wood. Use a paint or lacquer thinner labeled for use with the finish on the cabinets and drawers. Let the thinner sit on the cabinets and drawers for the length of time specified on the package then strip off any finish with a paint scraper and rinse off the cabinets and drawers with water and buff them dry.

Sand the cabinet and drawer surfaces with 150-grit sandpaper, moving with the grain. Wipe off the sanding dust with a damp tack cloth and allow the surfaces to dry.

Mix 1-1./2 cup of wood filler with 1 cup of turpentine in an empty can. Stir the mixture with a paint stirrer until it's well combined.

Apply the filler to the cabinet and drawer surfaces with a short-bristled brush, moving along the grain first then wiping across the grain with a nylon cloth. Wait for the filler to dry thoroughly. The filler will fill in pores for a smooth surface. Apply one or two more coats of filler until the surface is the desired smoothness.

Sand the dry surfaces of the cabinets and drawers with 150-grit sandpaper to create a rough surface that will take paint well. Wipe the residue off with a damp tack cloth and allow the surfaces to dry.

Spray enamel paint evenly onto the cabinet and drawer surfaces or apply paint with an angled brush. Allow the paint to dry then apply one or two additional coats until you achieve the desired finish.