Wood & furniture
Prepping raw cabinets for paint
Paint sticks to what you prepared, not what you wished was prepared.
Cabinets fail at the prep stage, not the painting stage. The two-step climb that gives primer something real to bond to.
The climb
The exact sequence, in order.
- 1 120
Knock down mill glaze and raised grain
ROS at low speed. Even pressure across each panel — no resting in one spot.
Reach for
Mirka Gold 5-inch Hook & Loop Disc Assortment
- 2 220
Final scuff before primer
Light hand sanding with the grain. The goal is grip for the primer, not removing material.
Reach for
Indasa Plusline 220-Grit 9×11 Sheets (50-pack)
Watch out for
The things that quietly ruin the job.
- ·Don't skip the 220. Primer adheres to a scuffed surface — a glass-smooth panel will peel within a year.
- ·Sand profiled edges with a sponge, not a flat sheet. A flat sheet skips the detail.
- ·Tack cloth between every step. Dust under primer is forever.
Questions people ask
The practical part.
Do I sand between primer coats?
Yes — a light 320 scuff between primer coats. Same logic: grip for the next layer.
Can I skip prep if I use a bonding primer?
No. Bonding primer compensates for glossy surfaces, not raised grain or mill glaze. Sand anyway.
Keep going