How to Remove Lacquer from Kitchen Cabinets

Lacquer is a common finish to enhance the organic beauty of wood furniture and kitchen cabinets. But what if your lacquer is old, worn out, or outdated?  Removing antiquated lacquer from your kitchen cabinets can give them a new lease on life and bring out the inherent beauty of the wood. So, the question that arises here is How to remove lacquer from kitchen cabinets?

Removing outdated lacquer from your cabinets can give your kitchen cabinets a new look and bring out the aesthetic beauty of the wood though removing lacquer from cabinets is tricky and requires proper techniques and methods. 

So, in this guide, I will cover all the methods and tips that will assist you in removing lacquer without affecting the finish of your kitchen cabinet. So, continue reading this guide till the end to learn all about How to remove lacquer from the kitchen cabinet.

Understanding Lacquer and Its Effects on Kitchen Cabinets

As we have discussed earlier, lacquer is a finish that is frequently used on kitchen cabinets because of its protective properties, glossy sheen, and longevity. It offers a durable, smooth covering that protects the wood from stains, moisture, and normal wear and tear, which makes it perfect for a kitchen. With its some advantages wood lacquers also has some common effects on your kitchen cabinets that include:

1. Lacquer can look worn down or damaged over time, giving the surface an ugly appearance.
2. Even though lacquer is very durable, it can still get cracks and scratches, especially in places where the cabinets are handled a lot.
3. The protective layer of lacquer may chip or peel off revealing the underlying wood in moist or high-moisture environments.

Understanding these effects is crucial if you want to customize the look of your kitchen cabinets by removing old worn-out lacquer. Now after knowing briefly about lacquer and its effects, let’s move toward How to remove lacquer from the kitchen cabinets.

Also read: How to Remove a Child-Proof Lock on a Kitchen Cabinet

How to Remove Lacquer from Kitchen Cabinets: A Step-by-Step Guide:

Lacquer is a common finish that is applied to kitchen cabinets to give them smoothness. It’s a fast-drying, apparent, or colored coating that gives the wood a tough, shielding layer that keeps it safe from humidity, spots, and damage. However, if the lacquer of your kitchen cabinets is becoming dull or you just want to renovate your kitchen, removing the lacquer is essential. So, before going directly towards How to remove lacquer from kitchen cabinets, let’s first have a look at lacquer and its effects on kitchen cabinets.

Removing lacquer from kitchen cabinets is only some people’s cup of tea as it requires plenty of labor. You should not do it if you do not enjoy getting into innovations or DIY projects.  There are specific methods for removing lacquer because of its solid connection with the wood, making conventional techniques of removing lacquer finish challenging. Without causing any harm to the wood, these strategies will swiftly remove the finish from the surface. 

The following methods, discussed below in the article, will assist you in removing lacquer from kitchen cabinets. Now, let’s have a detailed look at them. 

1. Preparation Before Removing Lacquer:

It would help if you got equipped before moving on to the different techniques for safely removing lacquer from your wooden cabinets. There are several preparatory procedures to follow to guarantee a successful removal. The following are some things to think about:

• Take everything out of your cabinets, including plates, food, and other cooking essentials. 
• To ensure adequate ventilation, open doors and windows and use fans if required. 
• Safety comes first, so before starting any methods make sure you wear all the safety equipment like gloves, mask goggles, etc.
• Test the lacquer remover on a small, hidden area of your cabinet before using it all over to make sure it doesn’t harm the wood or result in any undesirable discoloration. 
• Before starting the procedure of removing lacquer from kitchen cabinets,  make sure that you have all the necessary tools required to remove lacquer.

So, by following these preparatory strategies you will surely achieve the best possible results for your kitchen cabinets.

2. Use Lacquer Thinner:

One of the simplest methods to remove lacquer from kitchen cabinets is using a thinner. The lacquer loses its bond with the wood as a result of the thinner dissolving resin made of plastic in the lacquer.

Before going straight to the steps,  let’s first have a look at the materials you need:

Materials

Thinner. Brush. Protective gears. Alcohol(denatured) Bucket. Plastic blade. Rags/Cloth.  Sponge.

 Steps to Use Laquer Thinner to Remove Laquer:

1. In a bowl, mix an equal quantity of denatured alcohol and lacquer thinner. Combining lacquer thinner with denatured alcohol aids in removing shellac, which is frequently applied to the finish.
2. Apply the mixture with a paintbrush by rubbing it onto a section of the wood surface.
3. Using a fresh rag, remove any lacquer that has dissolved. Apply additional lacquer thinner and gently rub if the lacquer is difficult to remove.
4. Reapply lacquer thinner to troublesome areas and use a scraper to carefully lift the softened lacquer. Take care not to mar or harm the wood beneath.
5. Repeat the process if necessary.
6. Once the lacquer has been completely removed, use a clean cloth moistened with water or a mild soap solution to clean the cabinets and get rid of any last traces of lacquer thinner.

3. Use a Sanding Technique

Sanding your wood is a chemical-free process of removing lacquer from your kitchen cabinets. The lacquer finish on wooden surfaces can be mechanically removed by sanding them; however, be cautious not to sand the wood too much as this could compromise the structural integrity of kitchen cabinets.

The lacquer should first be removed with coarse-grit sandpaper. To smooth the surface, gradually switch to finer grit. Take care not to harm the surface or wood underneath. You will require the following equipment at hand. 

Materials

Sandpaper.(80-, 150-, and 220 grit) Brush. Rag/Cloth. Mild Soap for cleaning. Sanding machine(not necessary)

Steps to Use Sanding Technique: 

1. Start with Cleaning the area with a cloth or rag to have an impressive and enhanced sanding process.
2. For larger surfaces, use a sander; for smaller areas, use sandpaper.
3. Check the area as you shift to sandpaper with a finer grit. The wood’s surface and lacquer will be removed simultaneously.
4. Clean the dust particles with a cloth and clean the area to further get rid of lacquer. 

4. Use a Heat Gun:

Removing lacquer with the help of a heating gun method is one of the tricky and cost-effective methods if your wood does not get burned. The lacquer can be more easily scraped off if controlled heat is applied to it.  Due to the limited range of heat guns, this method may not be the best choice for covering large surfaces.

Materials

Heating Gun. Pint scupper or blade.

Steps to Use Heat Gun for Laquer Removal:

1. Maintaining the recommended distance, point the heat gun towards the area where you want to remove the lacquer. The perfect distance is 45 degrees and 15 centimeters from the surface.
2. After turning on the heat gun, face it toward the wood surface for a few minutes.
3. To remove the dissolved lacquer, use the plastic scraper. To protect the wood surface, the lacquer is gently lifted using a heat gun. Working quickly would be beneficial because the surfaces cool down as soon as the heat is removed. 
4. Continue doing this until all lacquer has been removed from the wood, and in the end, then use a wire brush to wipe off the materials.

5. Use a Solvent to Remove Laquer:

You can remove lacquer from kitchen cabinets by using a solvent. It is one of the convenient methods as solvent dissolves lacquer which is easy to wipe away. Let’s look at the material you need:

Materials

Solvents like acetone or denatured alcohol. Towel or Rag. Safety gear like gloves and mask. Container to put waste. For stubborn areas use steel wool or scraper.

Steps to Use a Solvent: 

1. Firstly, Apply the solvent to a rag that is free of dust. To prevent it from dripping, make sure not to soak it too deeply.
2. Apply the cloth drenched in a solvent in small sections to the lacquered surface. Gently rub to remove the lacquer. The solvent will make the lacquer softer, which becomes easy to remove.
3. Wipe away the lacquer with a fresh rag as it starts dissolving. If the lacquer is difficult to remove, you might need to use more solvent and try again.
4. Repeat the process gently if the lacquer is not disappearing. keep applying the solvent and wiping the lacquer away, until you remove all of the lacquer. 
5. In the end, when all of the lacquer disappears from your cabinets clean the surface To get rid of any last traces of solvent residue, use a clean cloth moistened with water or a mild soap solution and wipe down the cabinets.

Use a Chemical Stripper for the Removal of Laquer:

Chemical strippers are one useful tool for removing lacquer from kitchen cabinets. The lacquer is dissolved by the specially designed strippers, which facilitates its removal.

Materials

Chemical stripper according to your needs. Towel or Rag. Safety gear like gloves and mask. Sponge/Brush. Sharp blade. Steel wool.

Steps to Use a Chemical Stripper:

Firstly, With the help of a paintbrush apply a thick layer of stripper on the lacquer area then Wait for 15 to 35 minutes to let the stripper sit on the surface. 

1. Remove the softened lacquer carefully with a scraper or putty knife. 
2. You can also use steel wool dipped in stripper to remove lacquer from tough areas.
3.  If the lacquer is not gently leaving its place then reapply the strippers and repeat the process.
4. In the end, clean the surf with a cloth or wet towel.

By following these methods you can successfully remove the lacquer from kitchen cabinets and give them a new finish and look.

Also read: How to Varnish Kitchen Cabinets

1. How to remove lacquer from wood cabinets?

To remove lacquer from wood cabinets, lacquer thinner will be the best choice. Use a paintbrush to apply it on the cabinet surface and let sit the thinner completely. Use a plastic scraper to scrape off the lacquer. In the end, sand the surface gently and your cabinet is good to go for refinishing.

2. How to remove lacquer without damaging paint?

Conclusions:

How to remove lacquer from kitchen cabinets: To cut a long story short, the process of removing lacquer from kitchen cabinets is laborious, time-consuming, and difficult unless you are creative enough and enjoy DIY projects. Removing the damaged lacquer from kitchen cabinets not only enhances the overall look of your kitchen but also gives you a chance to renovate them. But removing lacquer is not as easy as it seems.

Many methods will assist you in getting rid of your old lacquer. Methods like using chemical strippers, heat guns, and solvents are some of the common techniques that we have discussed in depth in the article.

So, whether you are trying to renovate your kitchen cabinets or just want to give them a new paint, removing your old dull lacquer is essential and I am sure that now after reading this comprehensive guide you will surely and properly get rid of your dull lacquer from kitchen cabinets.

Also read: How to Get Rid of Moisture in Kitchen Cabinets