Thursday, May 20, 2010

Glazing Kitchen Cabinets

Glazing Kitchen Cabinets – The Step by Step Guide

Whether you desire to add character or appeal to your already painted kitchen cabinets, or you just want to darken up stained wood cabinetries, furnishing them with a regal and antique look with the use of colorant and some techniques is pretty easy. The following are the simple steps in glazing kitchen cabinets.

Materials

Normally, you don’t need to take the doors and hinges off. This relies on your personal choice if small amounts of glaze or colorant on your hinges does not bother you.

Also, make sure to research techniques on staining kitchen cabinets before starting your project.

The materials for this task are:
* Several brushes
*Water based or oil glaze
* Stain, paint or colorant
* Plenty of lint-free rags
* Paint thinner

What to Do

1. If you prefer to grow your once light colored wood stained cabinet dimmer, it’s beneficial to make use of glaze that is oil-based. For your information, glaze is a lucid substance in which you mix your desired color. It provides a clear look and continues to be wet until you get your wanted glazed appeal.

2. Mix some oil stain in your preferred color to the glaze. You must experiment a little with various mixes and apply it on the interior of the scrap wood or cabinet doors to determine the look you want to pull off in glazing kitchen cabinets. Use the “apply and wipe” technique together with the natural grain of wood.

3. Take all the cabinet knobs and pulls. Remove the drawers since they are easier to glaze when they are lined up or placed along your countertops. Clean them using denatured alcohol.

4. Apply the glaze in the right amount using a natural bristle brush. You can then wipe it off with clean rags until you attain your planned effect. Make sure that you work on one section at a time and stand back once in while to ensure that the glazing is consistent.

Tips and Tricks

* Go for colorants or paints that are darker than the current color of your kitchen cabinets.
* Different from oil based glaze, the acrylic glaze is milky and dries out clear. Remember that it darkens a bit when drying out.
* Don’t get frustrated when you mess up a section since you can always redo it by applying hot water and wiping the fresh glaze with a rag so you can start over again.
* When you smear any excess glaze, the extra glaze will be pushed in corners ad edges of the frames of the cabinets that will result to hand-rubbed appearance.
* Keep in mind that you are not trying to achieve perfect uniformity, but a naturally aged and charming cabinet look.

Carmina Collins is the owner of http://www.bestwindowsguide.com, a site dedicated to providing the latest tips and trends for fiberglass replacement windows. Visit her informative website before your next purchase and save time and money.