What Grit For Sanding Cabinets

Sand corners and grooves with sandpaper or a sanding sponge.

What grit for sanding cabinets.

Finish by sanding with 150 or 180 grit sandpaper or a medium fine sanding sponge by hand sanding along the grain of the wood. If the cabinets are stained or coated with a single layer of clear finish you may not need to use paint stripper. Heavy grit papers 60 to 80 grit remove material too fast and create scratches that weren t there before. First with 100 grit second with 180 grit and third with 220 grit.

If you are sanding cabinet doors or drawer fronts then starting at an 80 grit and working to a 120 or 150 grit is a great way to reduce time spent with an orbital sander. Generally if you re using an oil or clear finish you can stop sanding at 180 grit. Belt sanders come in 3 21 and 4 24 models so you can plan accordingly when looking at the best sandpaper. Instead of sanding chris and lexi use mineral spirits and a rough scrubbing pad to clean the cabinets thoroughly before priming them.

The same professionals who recommend using the random orbital sander for cabinets and furniture also advise users to make at least three passes with three different grits of sandpaper. And that is what will certainly decide the success or the failure of your sanding task. Continue on to 220 grit if you re using a stain or dye. Lower grit numbers represent coarser abrasives that scrape off materials much quicker.

These colorants tend to amplify swirl or scratch marks sanding to 320 grit creates a glasslike surface but also one that accepts little stain if that s your goal. For surfaces that are to be stained consider a light hand sanding with the grain to remove any and all remaining swirl marks. Sand the cabinet doors using an electric sander and 100 grit sandpaper for the initial sanding. The grit of the sandpaper may range from coarse and rough to nearly smooth.

The higher the grit number is equivalent to a finer abrasive which creates smoother surface finishes. Many woodworkers find they only need to go down to 100 to 120 grit paper with their random orbital sander for surfaces that will be painted or receive a clear finish. This not only cleans the cabinet paint doesn t go on well over grease but the scrubby sponge also roughs up the surface just enough to make the primer stick. Sand the cabinet doors and drawers.

Choosing the right grit for your needs will depend on the task at hand. Sand the finish from the cabinets trim and drawers with 120 grit sandpaper. When people ask what grit sandpaper to use for kitchen cabinets a professional will tell them.