Sanding Method

• 1). Remove knobs and other hardware from cabinets and set aside. If possible, open a window to ventilate the room. Spread the dropcloth over your work area and put on the respirator mask and gloves.
  
  
• 2). Use the power sander to strip the finish from the cabinet. Holding the sander at a slight angle, move it lightly but steadily along the surface of the wood. Avoid pressing too hard and do not allow the sander to stay in any one place for too long. A power sander will strip off not only the paint or varnish but may remove too much of the wood's surface as well if pressed too hard. In addition, if the cabinet has intricate carvings or detail, a power sander can flatten or damage them.
  
  
• 3). Sand the cabinet by hand using fine 150- or 180-grit sandpaper as an alternative to power sanding. This method is kinder to the wood's surface than power sanding because you can control how much wood is being sanded and work the sandpaper into any carvings or intricate detailing. Sand in the direction of the grain.
  
  
• 4). Clean the surface of the cabinets with a damp sponge to remove sawdust.
  
  

Chemical Method

• 1). Ventilate the room, put on protective gear and cover your work area with the dropcloth. Liberally brush on chemical paint stripper and allow it to set according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  
  
• 2). Scrape off the softened paint or varnish from the cabinet with a non-metal scraper in long strokes. Take care not to gouge the surface.
  
  
• 3). Use coarse steel wool and a non-metal scraper to remove finish from any raised surfaces, cutouts or intricate detailing on the cabinets.
  
  
• 4). Reapply chemical paint stripper to stubborn spots if necessary and scrape with the non-metal scraper or steel wool.
  
  

Heat Gun Method

• 1). Put on protective gear, cover your work area with dropcloths and ventilate the room.
  
  
• 2). Hold the heat gun 3 to 4 inches from the cabinet. Keep the heat gun in motion while working to avoid burning the wood. Work on one small section at a time.
  
  
• 3). Scrape off the paint with the scraper once it begins to blister and soften.
  
  
• 4). Use coarse steel wool to remove paint traces and follow up with fine-grit sandpaper.