Most wipe on finishes are oil based and when they eventually evaporate, you will be left with the results you have seen. The doors can be over sprayed with lacquer or polyurethane (oil or water based). Many of these products are available at big box stores in rattle can applications, in both gloss or satin finishes. If they aren't in stock, many mail order sources are available. The problem is preparation, especially with the lacquer application. The original finish can have no contaminates, otherwise the new finish will end up with "fish eyes", which are small holes in the finish. This is caused by any wipe on finish that may contain silicones or other product that will contaminate the new finish. The entire old surface should be lightly abraded with a fine grade of sandpaper or better to use, various "grits" of Scotch Brite pads. The maroon or green colours work quite well for light abrasion and will conform to the routed edges of a raised panel door. Then the area should be degreased and dewaxed using a product like Prepsol or many of the products that are used in the painting preparation of automotive finishes. Lacquer dries quickly and is durable for cabinets. Polyurethane is much more abrasion resistant, but takes longer to dry. If you can shoot the doors in your basement in a horizontal position, you will eliminate any runs or sagging of the finish. Use several light coats, sanding or abrading any dust before the final coat is applied. This sounds complicated. It's not. Remove the doors and hardware, abrade the original finish, clean with a solvent and cotton rag, spray with the new finish. It's a definate DIY project. The result will be cabinets that will look as new as when they were originally built. |