Can you put a good primer over varnished cabinets instead of sanding?

Question

I was thinking I could use the kind of primer you would put on panelling before painting that. What kind of primer is it?

Answer 1

There is a commercial product called "No Sand" which you can brush on instead of sanding. I've used it on woodwork and cabinets with excellent results. I highly recommend it.

Click this link to view the product: http://www.kleanstrip.com/paintprep.htm

It can be purchased at a local paint store or online.

Answer 2

NO! You have to sand first. At least a good rough coat of sanding. Varnish has no holes in the surface for the paint or primer to stick to properly. It WILL peel very easy. I worked at a cabinet factory painting and varnishing doors so I KNOW this is right. Even if you don't get all of it off completely, which you really should, it needs a good sanding to rough up the surface for the primer and paint to stick to. It's a tough job for a do it yourself, but it can be done. It will just take alot of time.

Answer 3

You can do this. But it won't get you the best results. Ideally, you should strip the old varnish off. But as I said, you don't have to. But there are more steps involved.

1. First, wash the entire piece of furniture with liquid TSP, which you will find at any home hardware store. I suggest the liquid instead of the powder because it's easier to mix with water, it isn't toxic and you don't have to rinse like with the powder.

2. Apply one or two coats of primer. Since the varnish that is on your cabients is most likely oil-based, you will need to use an oil-based primer. And don't worry if the varnish isn't oil-based, as oil-based primer will stick to it anyway... but a water-based primer won't stick to an oil-based varnish. The primer is prefer (because it applys easily, doesn't smell to bad and dries very quickly (2 hours) is Bull's Eye 1-2-3... If you can't find that, Kilz will work too. Oh... and you can paint ANY kind of paint on top of an oil-based primer, even latex. But if the cabinets are in your kitchen or your bathroom or any other room where there is humidity (like a laundry room) I highly suggest you use kitchen & bathroom paint, as it resists moisture, is easy to wash and will also repel any mold or mildew from the moisture.

3. If you don't want paint brush streaks on your cabinets, use a roller as much as possible and a sponge brush instead of a bristle brush.

4. Enjoy your new cabinets!

Answer 4

I would still do a light sanding. Wash with TSP, and a light sanding just to give a "tooth" to the old finish. You don't need to sand the finish off just roughen the surface a bit for a good bond with the primer.

Answer 5

if you want to spend the money on a high adhesion primer ,you will not need to sand just apply the primer and let it dry and top coat ,the advice about using a sponge/foan roller for your topcoat is correcr as you do not want brushmarks,here are two primers that will do the job for you, one is called X-I-M and it is about 50 dollars a gallon, the other is called Mad Dog and it is about 100 dollars a gallon, and for the topcoat try Benjamin Moore satin impervo...good luck......painting contractor.

Answer 6

Any good quality primer would be good on the cabinets...before painting, clean your cabinets with TSP(cleaner)....it works great on grease and grime....then prime and paint....have fun...good luck.

Answer 7

I'd rahter sand it first