Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Dichotomy on November 09, 2010, 09:15:02 AM

Title: Home improvement help
Post by: Dichotomy on November 09, 2010, 09:15:02 AM
okay gents I've done a lot of web research but generally the best advice on do it yourself comes from here so how would you go about removing paint from kitchen cabinets?  I want to take mine back to the original wood and stain them
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: VonMessa on November 09, 2010, 09:23:37 AM
Zip strip/ elbow grease/ scraper / elbow grease/  sandpaper / more elbow grease
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: ebfd11 on November 09, 2010, 09:27:37 AM
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/h2removepaint
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: Dichotomy on November 09, 2010, 09:29:04 AM
yep that's one of the links I looked at.  I'm just glad I don't just have to hand sand those puppies all the way. 
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: jimson on November 09, 2010, 09:30:52 AM
Your'e in for a lot of work.

You can use a paint stripper. I go for the strong stuff, rubber gloves and ventilation.

You can try the less toxic citrus based stuff.

Use as little water as possible to rinse the stripper off.

You will still likely have a lot of sanding to do, if they are basically flat, it won't be too hard

If there are a lot of details, bevels and such it will be a lot more difficult.
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: Dichotomy on November 09, 2010, 09:33:20 AM
well thank God I've got three strapping lads between 17 and 21 that work for food then.  I'll do the stripping and let them do the sanding  :devil
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: CAP1 on November 09, 2010, 11:23:34 AM
okay gents I've done a lot of web research but generally the best advice on do it yourself comes from here so how would you go about removing paint from kitchen cabinets?  I want to take mine back to the original wood and stain them

small flame thrower, then pee on them.  :devil

seriously.......the only way i know of, is elbow grease, and time.
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: LCCajun on November 09, 2010, 12:54:17 PM
Sandblast them then when all the damage is done tell the wife that you want to get her a present for being such an amazing woman in your life. If you play your cards right you will get something out of the deal to lol   :salute GL sir.
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: VonMessa on November 09, 2010, 01:01:51 PM
Wire brush on a right-angle grinder never hurts, either.

Well, only if you get too aggressive and the quills start shooting out  :D
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: Dichotomy on November 09, 2010, 01:20:27 PM
Sandblast them then when all the damage is done tell the wife that you want to get her a present for being such an amazing woman in your life. If you play your cards right you will get something out of the deal to lol   :salute GL sir.
[/quote

Fortunately I'm no longer encumbered by one of those ;)

Von that was my first thought but I could see myself cutting huge gouges in them and replacing cabinet doors is not my idea of fun :D
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: ROX on November 09, 2010, 01:26:59 PM
Palm-sanders work pretty well, just take your time.
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: VonMessa on November 09, 2010, 01:36:45 PM


Fortunately I'm no longer encumbered by one of those ;)

Von that was my first thought but I could see myself cutting huge gouges in them and replacing cabinet doors is not my idea of fun :D

Then why all the resto. work?  Just beat them with some chains, rub dirt on them and call it the "rustic" look.

Besides, if there is no wife you are obliged (as a bachelor) to have nothing but beer, condiments and chunky milk in the fridge and Ramen noodles and Cheeze-Its in the cabinets.
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: Dichotomy on November 09, 2010, 02:14:38 PM
Ummm because I like living in a nice place?  The basic requirements have already been met.  And, besides, I'm undoing my horrific mistake of saying to the ex 'sure paint it however you like it'  UGH...
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: CAP1 on November 09, 2010, 03:17:49 PM
make your kid do it.  :devil
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: Dichotomy on November 09, 2010, 03:20:39 PM
I'll get him and his friends to help me.  They're a pretty good bunch of guys. 
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: VonMessa on November 09, 2010, 03:22:20 PM
Ummm because I like living in a nice place?  The basic requirements have already been met.  And, besides, I'm undoing my horrific mistake of saying to the ex 'sure paint it however you like it'  UGH...

Oh.....

Can't help ya there...    :D
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: CAP1 on November 09, 2010, 03:28:30 PM
that's the ticket!!!!

i'll bet they'll run circles around ya for some good pizza, and soda.
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: Melvin on November 09, 2010, 03:30:53 PM
Depending upon the type of paint and how many layers you must get through, a heat gun or heat plate may be a good option.

<S> Melvin
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: Dichotomy on November 09, 2010, 03:36:55 PM
that's the ticket!!!!

i'll bet they'll run circles around ya for some good pizza, and soda.

psh.. they'll do it because they have a place to hang and I don't hassle them.. besides they're good kids and I usually grill up some burgers and dogs when they do.

Melvin I know it's two coats but the last one was applied in haste and not very thoroughly.  I'll probably experiment with the chemicals on one section this weekend to see what the results are. 

Like I said in the op.. this is generally the best place to find someone who has done something I haven't to get some pointers prior to screwing something up :D
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: VonMessa on November 09, 2010, 03:42:08 PM
psh.. they'll do it because they have a place to hang and I don't hassle them.. besides they're good kids and I usually grill up some burgers and dogs when they do.

Melvin I know it's two coats but the last one was applied in haste and not very thoroughly.  I'll probably experiment with the chemicals on one section this weekend to see what the results are. 

Like I said in the op.. this is generally the best place to find someone who has done something I haven't to get some pointers prior to screwing something up :D

Well, you didn't say that there was food involved, before...

Hell, throw in some beer and I'll be there, too  :aok
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: Dichotomy on November 09, 2010, 03:43:09 PM
of course there's beer involved... I'll be expecting you Saturday  :lol
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: VonMessa on November 09, 2010, 03:52:26 PM
of course there's beer involved... I'll be expecting you Saturday  :lol

How many feet of clear space near your house?  If it's at least 550 ft., we're golden.   :aok

I'll be there as soon as I'm finished my build   :D


(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff107/tymekeepyr/bhawk.jpg)
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: Dichotomy on November 09, 2010, 03:54:19 PM
Arlington has a nice airport.. I'll pick you up there.  Nice plane by the way.
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: VonMessa on November 09, 2010, 05:00:52 PM
Arlington has a nice airport.. I'll pick you up there.  Nice plane by the way.

Not mine, but that's the one I'm building.

Mine will be wearing late war Luftwaffe livery   :aok
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: Ghosth on November 09, 2010, 05:06:31 PM
I've had pretty good luck with the citrus based stripper.

Put on a fairly thick layer, let it set for 5 - 10 then grab a putty knife or scraper.
Will partly depend on how many layers need to come off and exactly what kind of paint is on it.

Remove all the fronts, the hardware, etc, lay em out on sawhorses in the garage. Whats left is normally fairly small strips. Getting it out of details in the doors, thats the hard part.
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: ozrocker on November 09, 2010, 05:08:36 PM
Use steel wool with the stripper, it helps a lot!

                                                                             <S> Oz
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: CAP1 on November 09, 2010, 05:17:12 PM
Use steel wool with the stripper, it helps a lot!

                                                                             <S> Oz

i tried using steel wool with a stripper once. it didn't end well at all.  :noid
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: ozrocker on November 09, 2010, 07:27:27 PM
i tried using steel wool with a stripper once. it didn't end well at all.  :noid
:rofl :rofl
For her or you?

                              <S> Oz
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: Dichotomy on November 09, 2010, 07:39:26 PM
i tried using steel wool with a stripper once. it didn't end well at all.  :noid

 :rofl

when Red Seal comes out your nose it is NOT pretty sir

 :rofl
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: oneway on November 09, 2010, 07:54:51 PM
35 years building and restoring custom homes...here is my two cents...

First off what is under the paint?

What are the cabinets made of?

Is the finish factory enamel or some schleps attempt to cover over the original wood finish with some crappy paint and brush work?

Are the drawer fronts solid wood or veneer and tape ?

Are the doors paneled veneers with taped edges or are they solid wood rail/frame and panel inserts or are they pressure molded products?

What is the existing finish...is it latex over oil or latex over laquer or oil over OR WHAT?

What is under that existing finish...is it hardwood or soft wood...does it even look good when you strip a sample section..

========================

Before you go down this road...make sure you know exactly what your dealing with...and forget anybody who said sandblast or sand...those guys have no clue what they are talking about...you will blow right through the thin veneers in a second...

Tip:

Stripping cabinets to wood finish is normally ONLY worthwhile when the cabinets are older and made from real wood and are constructed using coped frames and solid laminated panels...if your dealing with anything but solid wood...its cheaper to just go and buy new boxes and install them yourself...

Sanding or stripping cheap plywood boxes is an utter and complete waste of time...

I cannot count the times I have seen weekend warriors completely fail trying to strip cabinets with home owner strippers from places like Home Depot etc...only to further destroy the out come by attacking with an orbital sander...

It is EXTREMELY rare that any cabinet layered with paint is worth stripping...unless you live in a home at least 50 years old....and the cabinets were made the old school way before they invented cheap plywood...

We often strip old doors...vintage doors that are worth saving...and we do it by pulling the doors and the hardware on them and sending them to strippers who dip them in tanks of caustics...it is virtually the only time we ever consider stripping old paint from vintage and worthy elements...

Out

Oneway

Edit: If you want actionable intelligence on this question:

Take a picture of the cabs outside and in...and post it here...
Describe exactly what the existing finish is, and to the best of your ability ascertain what is under that
Find out what species of wood your attempting to uncover
Get a rough date of the manufacture of the cabinet
Try to ascertain whether the cabs are custom or factory

Once you do that you can only then begin to get 'advice'

Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: cattb on November 09, 2010, 08:41:34 PM
There are heat guns available for stripping paint, I have never used one myself. 20 years ago I refinished some kitchen cabinets made from  birch with chemical remover and elbow grease (sanding). They came out real nice when finished. I don't think I would do it again though, at least not for birch.

If I did it again I would try the heat gun, the chemicals, rubbber gloves, smell gets old fast.
Title: Re: Home improvement help
Post by: Dichotomy on November 09, 2010, 08:45:47 PM
35 years building and restoring custom homes...here is my two cents...

First off what is under the paint?

one layer of what appears to by acrylic paint

What are the cabinets made of?

looks like some pressboard construction.. fairly cheaply built

Is the finish factory enamel or some schleps attempt to cover over the original wood finish with some crappy paint and brush work?

schleps

Are the drawer fronts solid wood or veneer and tape ?

Solid wood.. soft

Are the doors paneled veneers with taped edges or are they solid wood rail/frame and panel inserts or are they pressure molded products?

Pressure molded

What is the existing finish...is it latex over oil or latex over laquer or oil over OR WHAT?

Looks like latex over latex

What is under that existing finish...is it hardwood or soft wood...does it even look good when you strip a sample section..

Can't really tell I've got a broken door I can strip and look at

========================

Before you go down this road...make sure you know exactly what your dealing with...and forget anybody who said sandblast or sand...those guys have no clue what they are talking about...you will blow right through the thin veneers in a second...

I deal with powdercoated steel on a daily basis.. pretty much knew that

Tip:

Stripping cabinets to wood finish is normally ONLY worthwhile when the cabinets are older and made from real wood and are constructed using coped frames and solid laminated panels...if your dealing with anything but solid wood...its cheaper to just go and buy new boxes and install them yourself...

Sanding or stripping cheap plywood boxes is an utter and complete waste of time...

I cannot count the times I have seen weekend warriors completely fail trying to strip cabinets with home owner strippers from places like Home Depot etc...only to further destroy the out come by attacking with an orbital sander...

It is EXTREMELY rare that any cabinet layered with paint is worth stripping...unless you live in a home at least 50 years old....and the cabinets were made the old school way before they invented cheap plywood...

We often strip old doors...vintage doors that are worth saving...and we do it by pulling the doors and the hardware on them and sending them to strippers who dip them in tanks of caustics...it is virtually the only time we ever consider stripping old paint from vintage and worthy elements...

Out

Oneway

Edit: If you want actionable intelligence on this question:

Take a picture of the cabs outside and in...and post it here...
Describe exactly what the existing finish is, and to the best of your ability ascertain what is under that
Find out what species of wood your attempting to uncover
Get a rough date of the manufacture of the cabinet

I'm guessing 1973 maybe 2 house was built in 73

Try to ascertain whether the cabs are custom or factory

factory

Once you do that you can only then begin to get 'advice'



Oneway see above.. budget is an issue and thanks sir.. I bought a quart of paint remover today and was going to test it in the next week.. Now I'm going to hold off