How to Repair and Protect Your Woodwork
You’ve had those beautiful lacquered cabinets for years now, but lately you’ve noticed a few scratches and worn spots that just seem to glare at you every time you’re in the kitchen. Don’t worry – with a little time and elbow grease, you can make them look brand new again. In this article, I’ll walk you through the steps for repairing damage and refinishing lacquered cabinets to protect the woodwork for years to come. We’ll go over how to identify the type of finish, sand out flaws smoothly, apply touch-up lacquer, and finish it off with a protective topcoat. With the right products and techniques, you can restore the gorgeous luster of your cabinets so they look like you just had them installed yesterday. So grab some sandpaper and a brush, and let’s get started breathing new life into your worn lacquered woodwork.
Prepping and Repairing Lacquered Cabinets Before Refinishing
Watermarks, stains, scratches, or dings—if your lacquered cabinets have been subjected to damage over time, you’ll want to assess each area that needs refinishing. Check for any signs of water damage along the edges and lower portions of cabinets, typically seen as dark stains, warping, or peeling lacquer. For stains, determine if they’ve penetrated through the lacquer into the wood or remain on the surface. Surface stains can often be scrubbed away, while deeper stains will require refinishing.
Scratches and Nicks
Light surface scratches can be concealed using touch up lacquer or scratch repair pens that match your cabinets’ color and sheen. For deeper scratches that expose bare wood, you’ll need to sand down and re-lacquer the area. Use fine-grit sandpaper to rough up the lacquer around scratches and nicks so the new lacquer adheres properly.
Dings and Dents
Small dents in cabinet doors and frames can often be steamed out using a damp cloth and an iron. Place the cloth over the dent and apply the hot iron in short bursts, checking progress in between. For larger dents or those that don’t come out with steaming, you may need to fill them in with wood filler before re-lacquering. Let any repairs dry as directed before proceeding to the next step.
With damage assessed and the necessary repairs made to any problem areas, your cabinets will soon be ready for new lacquer. Take your time to do this step right—it will make the rest of the process go smoothly and ensure beautiful results.
Refinishing Lacquered Cabinets: Process and Tips for Maximizing Durability
Before you start refinishing your lacquered cabinets, you need to do some prep work. First, inspect the cabinets for any damage like cracks, chips or water stains and repair as needed. You can fill small cracks and chips with wood filler that matches your cabinet color. Let it dry completely. For water damage, sand the area and apply a wood sealer or primer before painting.
Cleaning and Lightly Sanding
Give your cabinets a good wipe down to remove built-up grime and grease. Then lightly sand the entire cabinet surface with fine-grit sandpaper (around 220 grit) to rough up the lacquer and provide “tooth” for the new finish to adhere to. Wipe away dust with a tack cloth.
Deglossing Lacquered Surfaces
If your cabinets have a high-gloss lacquer, you’ll need to “degloss” them before painting. Apply a chemical deglosser or lightly sand the surface with an electric orbital sander using 220-grit sandpaper. Wipe away residue and dust. Deglossing helps new paint bond securely to slick lacquered surfaces.
With some minor repairs, a good cleaning, light sanding and deglossing if needed, your lacquered cabinets will be ready for a fresh coat of primer and paint. Taking the time to properly prep your cabinets will help ensure you get smooth, durable results that last. Your “new” cabinets will look factory finished when you’re done. All that’s left to do is pick out your favorite colors and brushes and get painting!
