Software
Houzz Logo Print
hzdeleted_10122511

Stain or paint unfinished oak cabinets?

11 years ago
Hi I want to get a honey oak color from my unfinished kitchen cabinets. Should I use with min wax to stain or use wood paint? Which one is better? Thanks

Comments (5)

  • PRO
    11 years ago
    Depends on the look you are after.
  • 11 years ago
    I just need a natural oak color.
  • 11 years ago
    you probably won't need stain then. Just buy a poly, preferably water based because it won't yellow. I do a lot of furniture refinishing the past 38 years. In fact, I just bought Cherry cabinets and am doing the staining myself :) If you've never finished any furniture before, make sure you sand them first maybe 320 grit then vacuum off the dust. You will need at least 3 coats of top coat sanding lightly and vacuuming or wiping with damp cloth between each coat. I would use maybe 400 grit or up to 600 by the time you get to doing the 3rd coat. Would give you a much better finish.
  • 11 years ago
    Thanks for you advice diyher. Really appreciate. Please see the pic for te color I want. You still think no need to stain just poly? Thanks
  • 11 years ago
    depends on the look you are going for. one thing you could do is unscrew one of your drawer front panels and use the back of that to test with color or just the poly. I'm doing that now with my Cherry unfinished :)) Since my cabinets aren't installed yet, and at least 2 larger cabinets are not put together yet by me, I'm also testing stain color on the back area of the front frames. For you that would be hard though :) Just don't test on the backs of doors, because once you open a cabinet, it would be real obvious.

    Are you located in the US? I've always just used Minwax poly and on antique pieces used tongue oil. This time for my lower cabinets I am staining, I decided to use General Finishes "Enduro Var" which is a water based poly with the durability of varnish. I am hearing a lot of pro woodworkers rave about it. It dries fast about 2 hours, doesn't have a bad smell, and levels out nice and of course is extremely durable for kitchen cabinets. It comes in: flat, satin, semi-gloss and gloss. I would think you would want to go with no more than satin.
    You can't really find it in stores, except specialty woodworker stores. But, you can buy it online via Amazon or Rockler that is a big wood workers store.