How to remove thick paint from kitchen cabinets?
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My kitchen is very small and the cabinets were painted dark gray, really dark. I like the idea of the gray but in a more subdued shade. The old paint appears to have been given many coats and even looks thick. My problem is not the sanding part, but rather how do I remove that extra thick paint so the cabinets have a nice, soft finish instead of paint that looks like it was poured out from the can. Handles and hinges were covered, too. I can replace the hardware but not the cabinets. SMOOTH is the key word here. It's hard to get away from drips and runs. Thanks for any help you can offer. Come on over and we'll have a painting party! 
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To remove the paint use a paint stripper like a citrus based one and scrap off the paint as best you can. There may need to be two or three tries to get it all off. Sand, prime and paint in a lighter color.
I definitely agree here.... A stripper is the way to go. I hate using it, but once you start, that old thick paint will bubble right off. I would suggest removing the cabinet doors so that you can strip them production style
I agree, removing lots of paint requires a stripper.
HINT: For those places that have "grooves" the best tool to get the paint out is a "nut picker" ...you know that tool we all used to have that came with the nutcracker set? (Link below).
When I took on the job of refinishing a couple of spindle beds for a friend after they had been dipped in an acid bath to remove layers of paint by a professional furniture renovator, I found that in all of the creases there were specks of various paint! After much thought, I came up with picking out the paint with the "nut picker"...along with the occasionally scraping with a single edge razor blade!
https://www.google.com/search?q=video+on+building+bunkbed+with+desk+underneath&rlz=1C1GGRV_enUS751US751&oq=video+on+building+bunkbed+with+desk+underneath&aqs=chrome..69i57.10935j1j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Remove the doors, use a commercial paint stripper. Paint with two coats of thinner paint rather than one thick coat.
Use Citristrip a non-toxic paint stripper