I posted this awhile ago asking about my cabinets. Thank you all for your advice and ideas.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/paint/msg10233732960.html?7

My husband has come to find out that stripping them isn't so bad. Especially considering there are 6 layers of paint on them! :O They seem to be coming off easily.

I'd like some good information on staining. In the past I'd thrown on a stain and then poly on the top. I want to make sure we do this correctly.

Are there are things I need to do to the wood before finishing it? It looks to be pine. We were thinking of leaving it a natural color. We're afraid staining it a color might bring out more of their imperfections then we'd like. Is their a wood conditioner I need to use one we get them stripped?

Shellac, Poly and the rest. What's what and what's best? At our old house we had tons of wood trim that has this extremely slick coating on it. It was so easy to dust and I just loved it. How would I mimic that?

We're complete noobs when it comes to this and I really want to make sure to do things correctly. Any advice or links would be fantastic.

Thanks!!