Thoughts on painting oak cabinets & walls

[j54mark]

If the wood is stained, removing the existing stain is more or less impossible. You have to sand the wood down beyond the depth of stain penetration.

More likely it just has a spray finish coat - lacquer or something similar. You will have to sand or strip this coat down to bare wood.

In addition to regular stains, you may want to consider the "pickled" stains. This is really more of a paint, but it does not obscure the wood grain, and is the only way to achieve a lighter tone.

Remember that a regular stain cannot make the wood any lighter in tone, only darker.

My inclination would be to strip off the finish, sand smooth, and apply a new finish coat - I use a 50-50 mix of Watco Danish Oil and Polyurethane (oil based, of course). Darkens the wood slightly, but is very tough and can be applied with rags for a mistake-proof finish.

Mark

[mello mike]

never paint your wood, especially in an Airstream. I wish mine had real wood.

[wascobob]

j54mark---Tell us more about the 50/50 blend of Watco Danish Oil and Polyurathane (oil based). Sounds like it might be very useful for other projects such as funiture finishing and interior house trim, ect.

More info please------Thanks Bob

[Steve Heywood]

I hate the Oak cabinets in our Excella, Steve thinks they are just fine. What are we doing is trying our best to match the current oak in our Trailer. As for the walls with it's wierd paste board gold vines on white background, It's being painted as is some of the really bad factory installed "fake oak panels" We are trying to go light tan. Although we found some off whites that are dead on matches to the headliners. We did paint the bedroom green and liked it, although with this overhaul remodel it's going tan also. We've talked about a new trailer and I love the light toned wood in the Safari's and it isn't to bad in the Classics either. Good Luck! it's a lot of work.