Remove hardware
before beginning the refinishing process.
Wooden doors will last for many years. The finish, however, may not be so lucky. Paint or stain on a door will need to be restored as it becomes faded or scratched. A closet door, particularly in a bedroom, can make a large impact in the room. Putting a new finish on your closet doors will update the space without having to replace the doors entirely. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Take the door off its hinges or rolling track. Set it on a padded sawhorse. Work in a well-ventilated area.
2. Remove the hardware from the door.
3. Use a random-orbit sander covered in 80-grit sandpaper to sand the flat parts of the door. This will strip the wood of old varnish or paint.
4. Use a metal scraper to get into corners and along the tip of raised panels where the sander will not fit. Hold onto the scraper with both hands, applying pressure as you scrape in the direction of the wood grain.
5. Fold a piece of 100-grit sandpaper into thirds and rub back and forth using long strokes along moldings. Use a sanding sponge to get to inside corners or other areas that your fingers cannot reach with sandpaper.
6. Brush away the dust you created with a brush. Follow up with a hand vacuum.
7. Seal the top and bottom of the door with one coat of stain or paint; use the same finish you elected to use on the rest of the door. Allow the finish to dry per the manufacturer's instructions and then rehang the door. The rest of the finish will be applied with the door back on the closet, as hanging it after the finish is applied will likely result in damage to the new coat.
8. Lay down a drop cloth in front of the closet and open windows to create ventilation.
9. Soak a China-bristle brush in paint thinner for two minutes and then knock off the excess thinner. Dip the brush 1/3 of the way into your finish. Start by covering the larger panels, and then move on to the surrounding moldings and rails. Always work in the direction of the wood grain. Use a light, even motion as you work to avoid brush-stroke marks.
10. Allow the first coat to dry completely per the manufacturer's instructions. If a second coat is desired, dust the surface with 280-grit sandpaper, wipe the door down with a tack cloth and apply the second coat. Reattach the hardware once the final coat has dried.
Tags: direction wood, direction wood grain, doors will, manufacturer instructions, Remove hardware, second coat, wood grain
