Cabinet Sanding Tips & Tricks

Are you planning on painting your cabinet doors a bright or bold color? Are you investing in replacement cabinet doors you plan to paint for your bathroom or guest house? No matter what home renovation project you have planned, preparation is key to ensuring a smooth, seamless application, and the first step is sanding.

Sanding cabinets removes unwanted imperfections and provides a smooth surface for your upcoming remodeling project. If you don't sand your cabinets before painting, you may not achieve a clean, professional finish. The paint you apply is also more susceptible to peeling or chipping over time. 

In this article, we'll outline everything you need to sand cabinets and achieve a seamless finish.

Tools and Materials Needed

Before sanding cabinets, there are a few tools you'll need to have on hand for the project. This includes:

• Fine Grit Sandpaper
• Coarse Grit Sandpaper 
• Medium Grit Sandpaper 
• Sanding Block
• Electric Sander
• Primer
• Wood Filler

You should also protect yourself by wearing gloves and a dust mask before you start your cabinet sanding project.

Preparation Tips for Cabinet Sanding

If you've never sanded cabinet doors, you'll want to ensure you're prepared to handle the job. To get started:

• Remove the Cabinet Hardware: The first thing you'll want to do is remove the handles, pulls, or knobs from the cabinets. Also, remove the cabinet door hinges before you start sanding your cabinets.
• Clean the Cabinets: Use warm water and gentle soap to eliminate unwanted dirt, grime, or bacteria on the cabinet doors. 
• Always Wear a Dust Mask: When sanding cabinet doors, dust particles can get inhaled. Dust masks will protect your respiratory system and prevent any unwanted allergic reactions.
• Work in a Well-Ventilated Area: To avoid discomfort or exposure to toxic chemicals, ensure you're working in a well-ventilated area with proper airflow.

Understanding the Types of Sandpaper 

For your sanding cabinets project, you'll want three different types of sandpaper. Each type has a unique grit pattern and is recommended for different parts of the project. 

• Coarse Grit: Coarse sandpaper is used during the early stages of standing. The coarser grit helps remove excess varnish, stain, or paint on the cabinet door. 
• Medium Grit: Medium grit sandpaper helps remove unwanted imperfections. It can be used to smooth out dents and eliminate rough areas on the door. 
• Fine Grit: Finish the sanding process with a finer grit, which will help you achieve a smooth finish.

Step-by-Step Guide to Sanding Cabinet

Once you've removed the cabinet doors from your cabinets and invested in the proper materials, it's time to start the sanding cabinet project. Here's a step-by-step guide to sanding kitchen cabinet doors.

1. Initial Sanding 

Once you've cleaned and removed the cabinet doors from the cabinets, you'll want to start the sanding cabinet process with coarse grit sandpaper. This will help eliminate any old paint or varnish on the cabinet doors. During the initial sanding, you can use an electric sander to speed up the process. Don't forget to also get the corners and edges before moving on to the next step.

Be mindful of the intricate detailing, raised edges, or recessed panels on the cabinet doors. Before proceeding, you may need to use an orbital sander to reach all of the surfaces and areas of the cabinet door.

2. Filling Imperfections

Once the initial sanding phase is complete, it's time to fill in any dents and scratches with a wood filler. The most popular types of wood fillers are oil-based and water-based. Read the directions carefully and let the cabinet doors completely dry before you move on to the next phase. Some fillers take around 24 hours to fully dry.

3. Intermediate Sanding 

Next, use medium-grit sandpaper to buff away the imperfections and smooth the surface. Look for scratches and marks left behind from using the electric sander. 

4. Final Sanding 

The last step is using finer-grit sandpaper. This sandpaper helps you achieve a smooth surface and prepare to apply a primer to the cabinet doors. 

5. Prepare for Finishing

Once you've completed the sanding cabinet door process, you'll want to finish by applying a primer. The primer will create a solid base for the paint you apply to the cabinet doors. It can also increase the durability of the wood. 

Common Sanding Mistakes to Avoid 

Sanding cabinets is an important step in the preparation process. However, there are a few common mistakes you'll want to be mindful of to ensure a smooth finish. This includes::

• Oversanding and Damaging The Wood: Oversanding can damage your cabinet doors. You'll want to take the sanding process slowly and look for warning signs of damage before moving on to the next step. If the wood shows signs of damage during the early phase, you may need to switch to a medium or finer grit. Keep in mind that most cabinets only last 15-20 years. If your cabinet doors are older, you may need to invest in replacement cabinet doors instead.
• Not Sanding Evenly: The goal of cabinet sanding is to achieve a smooth, even finish before you apply paint and primer. After each sanding phase, you'll want to ensure nothing is uneven before moving on to the next step.
• Skipping Steps: If you don't use all three types of sandpaper on your project, you may get an uneven finish. Each sandpaper grit serves a different purpose and is essential to achieving an even finish. 

Invest in Sanded Cabinet Doors Today

At Cabinet Door Factory, we understand how tedious the sanding and preparation phase can be for cabinet doors. We offer fully sanded and paint-ready cabinet door options in our most popular styles. With our paint-ready options, you can expertly paint your replacement cabinet doors your favorite color before installing them in your kitchen or bathroom. 

Explore our paint-ready and unfinished cabinet doors for sale today to get started! 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is grit sandpaper for cabinets?

Coarse, medium, and finer grit sandpaper is needed to sand cabinet doors. 

Do you have to sand the cabinets before painting?

Yes, properly preparing your cabinet doors is vital to achieving a smooth, even finish for your project. If you skip this step, the paint may chip or peel over time.