Can can I use my orbital sander, maybe with 320? best paint to use?

220 grit paper would first. Prime with oil based primer or Kilz, lightly hand sand again, paint 2 coats of oil based paint to finish. No top coat needed.

Use a palm sander fitted with 100-grit sandpaper to remove the finish from cabinet doors, drawers, and boxes.

Look for a paint designed for trim, often labeled enamel. The higher the sheen, the more durable the finish—high gloss will stand up better than satin.



Start with some 80 grit sandpaper to really get past the top layer of stain and imperfections. Then come back with some 150 grit to smooth the grain back down before painting. If you want a glass-like appearance, you could always come back with some 220 grit sandpaper and really get them smooth. For your paint, you will want to use an enamel paint. I would not use oil based paint on your cabinets simply because it is too much of a pain to clean. Latex enamel will last just as long as oil based. If you want something very durable, go with a gloss paint, but if you don't like the look of gloss, you could use a semi-gloss or satin.

All you need is to lightly sand them to remove any gloss and roughen for paint. Sanding down to raw wood if you plan to stain. Even though you can stain over stain with gel stain.

How to Paint Cabinets

Make sure they are clean and dry. Remove the doors and hardware. Mark the doors and cabinets with tape where they go. Lightly sand the doors and cabinets to remove any gloss and roughen the surface for paint with 100 grit sandpaper or a green Scotch Brite pad.. Use a tack cloth or damp rag to remove dust after sanding. Prime with a stain blocking primer like KILZ. You can have the primer tinted to the color of the top coat but not necessary. Acrylic, or water base paints are low-fume and clean up easily with water. Alkyd, or oil-base, paints require good ventilation because the paint contains solvents that can irritate your lungs and make you feel sick. Alkyd options require mineral spirits for cleanup, but they provide a hard, durable paint finish. Whichever you use, buy the best-quality paint you can afford for a lasting kitchen cabinet finish. Seal with at least three coats with a water based polyurethane. Use a small foam roller and foam brush for a smooth finish.