What Grit Sandpaper To Sand Painted Cabinets

If your cabinets have a factory finish sand lightly with 120 grit sandpaper or a sanding sponge.

What grit sandpaper to sand painted cabinets.

Sand the finish from the cabinets trim and drawers with 120 grit sandpaper. But you don t need to sand to bare wood. Choose a high quality paint. Sandpaper is one of the most common items you will find with professional painters along with all types of construction workers.

Wood cabinets are ideal for painting but any surface that can be scuffed with sandpaper can be painted. This has a higher grit grading of between p180 and p500 and will not be as effective at removing the majority of a painted surface. The grit of sandpapers is a rating of the size of abrasive materials on the sandpaper. Equipped with 100 grit sandpaper orbital sanders remove surface material from cabinets and doors without going too deep.

A simple product that combines sand or similar abrasive material on a strong backing paper sandpaper is used to smooth surfaces remove rust or paint and can prepare a surface as well. Special cabinet paints are available that provide a smooth finish but any high quality paint should work. Primary sanding of rough wood and the removal of planning marks on wood is often best done with medium grit sandpaper. If the cabinets are stained or coated with a single layer of clear finish you may not need to use paint stripper.

Laminate cabinets require a special bonding primer. The laminate must be in good condition for best results. Then sand again with 120 grit to get rid of any sanding marks. You can sand by hand if you would like but your arms will probably get pretty tired.

Lower grit numbers represent coarser abrasives that scrape off materials much quicker. If the surface is rough from a previous paint job or poor varnishing job start with coarser 100 grit paper to remove bumps. For surfaces that are to be stained consider a light hand sanding with the grain to remove any and all remaining swirl marks. Grab your orbital sander and some medium grit sandpaper.

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. Medium grade sandpaper will take the next level of paint and reduce it further by sanding the final layers away. Painted cabinets should get a thorough sanding with 120 grit paper but no matter the finish do a final pass with 220 grit. Fine sandpapers range from 120 to 220 grit.

The higher the grit number is equivalent to a finer abrasive which creates smoother surface finishes.