Replacing worn-out wood cabinets can be expensive, but as long as they're structurally sound, they can be painted for a fraction of the cost of replacement. Oak cabinets are a challenge, as some people dislike the open grain look of the wood. With some extra work and specialized primer, you can eliminate the grain, or for a little less work, let the texture of the wood show through.
Paint and Materials
You will need a degreasing cleaner for thoroughly cleaning the cabinets, along with at least two flexible sanding blocks. If you use brushing putty primer, you will need a palm sander. A power screwdriver will save a lot of time in removing and replacing the doors and hardware. You'll also need wood putty and caulk for the joint seams and gaps that aren't visible in the natural oak finish, but which become glaringly obvious once the cabinets are painted. Also, have on hand painter's tape, drop cloths, spare buckets and plenty of rags for cleaning up.
For filling in the open oak grain, use brushing putty. Use oil-based primer to let the grain show through. While oil-based (alkyd) paint is the most durable choice, many water-based (latex) paints are very close in quality. Oil-based paint is harder to work with, requiring much longer drying times between coats. For both types of paint, mixing in a paint conditioner will improve adhesion and workability.
Use good quality brushes and rollers instead of cheap "painting kits." If you plan to spray the cabinets, you will need masking paper and tape, plastic drop cloths and canvas painter's tarps to protect the area from overspray.
Preparation is Key
Don't skip any step in proper preparation if you want a durable, washable finish that resists chipping. Remove all the doors and drawers, and take off all the hinges and hardware. These can be washed in mild detergent.
Scrub the cabinets with a degreaser solution such as TSP (trisodium phosphate). Most sanding sponges can be used while wet; using them to scrub the cabinets combines both the cleaning and the sanding into one step.
To eliminate most of the grain appearance, use a cheap brush to apply the brushing putty as directed on the can. This stuff dries hard, and a palm sander will speed the job up considerably. For a more natural appearance, prime all the oak with an oil-based interior primer.
Caulk all gaps and putty holes after the priming is done. Don't forget to caulk the cabinets wherever they meet the wall. Not only is it much easier to see what needs to be caulked and filled at this stage, the caulk and putty will adhere better to the primed surface. Spot prime all the puttied areas (caulking doesn't require priming.)
Painting Oak Cabinets
It's not usually advisable to paint the insides of the cabinets or the shelves. Paint the cabinet boxes, the drawer fronts and both sides of the doors. Unless you are spraying--which puts on a much heavier finish--figure on doing two coats of your finish paint.
To speed the process, finish the insides and edges of the cabinet doors, leaving the final coat on the door fronts until last. Replace the hinges and hang the doors, then paint the final coat.
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