Step By Step Process & Items Needed For Painting Over Shellac Finished Cabinets
If in case your cabinets have shellac, then it is important to get rid of the glossy element before you can paint. Shellac is a kind of glossy varnish that can usually be applied to wood cabinets. It frequently adds a yellow or orange cast to the finish. Unlike painted cabinets, the smoothness of the shellac does not adhere to the paint well unless you prepare the surface before applying the paint, so it needs extra preparation. In order to paint over shellac finished cabinets, you need to gather the required items first before going through the below-mentioned step by step process:
Items Needed
- Blue Painter's Tape
- Plastic Sheeting
- Tack Cloth & Rags
- Screwdriver & Liquid Deglosser
- Abrasive Pad & Sandpaper
- Wood Filler, Paint Brush & Paint Roller
- Primer, Orbital Sander
- Sanding Sponge & Paint
Step By Step Process
- First of all, you have to seal off your cabinets with blue painter's tape. Wrap up any surface that you feel might get splattered with paint, like the counter or floor, with the help of plastic sheeting or a tack cloth.
- Now, detach any hardware from the doors as well as drawers with the help of a screwdriver. Then detach the drawers and doors from the cabinets. Use a screwdriver in order to loosen the hinges from the cabinets.
- Next, spread a liquid deglosser to the cabinets, doors as well as drawer fronts with the help of a rag. Allow the deglosser to sit for a couple of minutes as per the manufacturer's directions. Now with the help of an abrasive pad rub the surface of the cabinets in order to get rid of the shellac. Keep going with the process until you have completely eliminated the shellac from the entire surface of the cabinet.
- After that, cleanse the surface of the cabinets using a damp rag. This will help in getting rid of any leftover pieces of shellac that were rubbed away. Then allow the surface to get fully dry.
- Now, it is time for sanding the surface of all the cabinets, doors as well as the drawer fronts with the help of large grit sandpaper, like 100-grit silicone carbide sandpaper. Cleanse the surface with the help of a damp rag in order to get rid of the dust once you have finished sanding. Allow the surface of the cabinets to get dry.
- If in case there are any holes, gaps, or scratches, then fill it in with wood filler. Make sure not to rub the filler across the surface of the wood, instead harden the filler. Now, sand the filler flush and seamless with the surface of the cabinets.
- With the help of a paintbrush or paint roller, spread a smooth, even coat of primer to all your cabinets, doors as well as drawers. If in case you want your cabinets to be painted with a dark color, then use a tinted primer. Make it to dry overnight.
- Now, sand the surface of the primed cabinet with the help of an orbital sander and fine-grit sandpaper. For the trim edges of the cabinet doors, you can use a sanding sponge. Cleanse the surface with the help of a damp rag. Let it dry. Finally, sprinkle on the finish coat of paint & then let it dry. Bring the drawers back into place. Attach the doors to the cabinets back & your cabinet is ready to be used again.