How to Paint Oak Cabinets

Remove doors and label (write behind the hinges). Use 3M Advanced Masking plastic.

Mask the openings in the cabinet frames

Scrub the doors with Dawn dish soap to clean (you can also use a trisodium phosphate - TSP). Use gloves and eye protection. Spray on the tsp and let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe it off with a clean towel. Use a five in one tool to get the hard-to-reach corners.

Caulk the panel inside corners. Use lightning caulk. Then bondo and prime Nick's and dings.

Sand the bondo and and the rest of the cabinets. Use denatured alcohol and steel wool to prep surfaces you can't sand. Then use a vacuum, air blower, and tack cloth to clean.

Apply first coat of catalyzed laquer primer surfacer with sprayer. Use risers (plywood and nails) to raise the painted material off of your table and minimize smudges.

Then use aqua coat grain filler.

Spray on the second coat of primer (spray opposite direction) or you can use a roller. Prime the hard to see surfaces of the frame first, then focus on the face frame fronts where quality issues might be more visible so you can correct them.

Then put grain filler on with plastic scraper. Use a cloth to wipe excess and apply in hard to reach areas.

Sand with 220 grit sandpaper.

Apply first top coat and let dry.

Apply second top coat and let dry.

Inspect for blemishes in sand down if needed, then touch up.

Reassemble cabinets.

Prep. Use a 7/64 drill bit for pilots holes on hidden side of doors, then install cup hooks and hang on hangers that rotate.

Use 3M 20/20 tape or Frog Tape for prep.