Put down drop cloths.
How to sand a panel door.
Sanding raised panel doors requires more work because you cannot fit a sander around the edges of the panels.
Reattach the hardware and rehang the door.
Start with a light sandpaper or a sanding sponge 180 or 220 grit.
The principles in sanding a door apply to almost any frame and panel construction which is stock in trade in my furniture business.
This is usually the most time consuming tedious part of the project.
Apply one to two coats of penetrating stain wiping off any excess.
Sand the door again with 150 grit followed by 220 grit sandpaper.
A raised panel door is like any wood door.
Smooth out chipped paint and imperfections from previous paint jobs.
Fill holes and repair imperfections with sandable filler or spackle.
A good sand job on a heavily detailed cabinet door shouldn t take more than 15 minutes 7 8min per side.
Dust and sand with 280 grit paper then put on the final coat.
Watch our step by step video showing how to paint an external door with expert advice and top tips to help you complete the job with confidence.
After sanding remove dust from the area before priming or painting.
Before assembling the door sand the panel itself and the moulded section surrounding the field.
This will roughen the surface a little and allow the primer to adhere better.
Sand with non clogging 180 or 220 grit sandpaper or sanding sponges look for non clogging or stearated on the label.
Before painting clean the door with a degreasing cleaner.
Back off the sandpaper and use a synthetic steel wool 3m multi flex is what i use for the raised panel and detail parts of the door.
It may seem like a lot of work but it shouldn t take more than five minutes when the door is flat on the sawhorses.
Apply two or more coats of spar varnish allowing each coat to dry.
Brush on the second coat following the same order and let it dry overnight.
Use 120 grit sandpaper to gently sand the door for a smoother surface that will absorb primer or paint more easily.
The finish becomes worn over time creating the need for refinishing.
You don t want to sand through to bare wood dust the door and wipe it down with a tack cloth.
After the finish has dried overnight gently hand sand it with 220 grit paper.
Sand the back of the panel and the field with 100 120 150 and 180 grit paper.
Refinishing doors is not a job that anyone really looks forward to especially raised panel doors.