How to Refinish Maple Cabinets
- 1). Remove the hardware from the cabinets with a screwdriver. Remove all handles, hinges and screws.
- 2). Brush a thick coat of chemical stripper onto the maple cabinets. Allow the stripper to sit on the cabinets until the old finish begins to peel.
- 3). Scrape all of the original finish off the maple cabinets with a putty knife. Scrub off stubborn areas of the old finish with steel wool. Wipe the cabinets down with a damp cloth to remove any remains of the stripper.
- 4). Sand the maple cabinets with 120-grit sandpaper to remove any remaining bits of the original finish. Sand the cabinets again with 220-grit sandpaper to further smooth the surface of the wood.
- 5). Wipe a coat of stain onto the maple cabinets with a clean cloth. Allow the stain to absorb into the wood and wipe off any excess with another cloth.
- 6). Brush a thin coat of polyurethane onto the maple cabinets in long, overlapping strokes. Allow the initial coat to dry, and lightly sand the cabinets with 220-grit sandpaper. Brush on a second thin coat of polyurethane, and sand again with 220-grit sandpaper once it's dry.
