Two Methods on Removing Paint from Metal Cabinets

Nowadays, you can find metal cabinets almost anywhere – from office furniture to kitchen storage. Metal cabinets are made of sheet metal and have now been widely used for several purposes because of its flexibility and style. If you have old painted cabinets at your home or office that you want to refinish, the first step will be to remove the paint from the cabinet first.

Learning how to carefully strip paint from metal is the first step to repaint or refinish your metal cabinets. This article will show you the two methods that you can use on removing paint from metal cabinets.


Removing Paint Using Paint Stripper

Materials needed:
Screwdriver, Mild detergent or multipurpose cleaner, Sponge, Cloth, Paint scraper, Chemical paint stripper, Plastic bucket, Thick paintbrush, Hard sponge, Sandpaper

1. Put plastic sheets or drop cloths under the cabinet so that the floor will not be damaged or get painted.

2. Take off all the door handles and other hardware from your metal cabinet using a screwdriver. Since you will use chemicals to eliminate the paint, it is important to protect the surface you lay the doors on and remove any hardware that might be on them.

3. Next, clean the whole metal cabinet with water and mild detergent or a multipurpose cleaner. Soak a sponge in the cleaning solution then wipe the surface of the metal cabinet. Use a dry and clean cloth to wipe the surfaces and wait for the cabinet to dry totally.

4. Eliminate carefully any loose paint using a paint scraper. A paint scraper is a tool utilized to remove paint from a solid surface by means of scraping or abrasion.

5. Apply a little amount of paint thinner on a cloth or clean rag then entirely wipe the cabinet. Paint thinner is a solvent that is utilized to thin oil-based paints. It is always advised to put on rubber gloves when working because paint thinner can hurt sensitive skin.

6. Get a plastic bucket and pour a chemical paint stripper in it. Paint stripper is used to take off paint and other finishes and to clean the underlying surface. However, this can irritate the skin and continued use of this can result to rashes. It is therefore necessary to wear gloves, long sleeves and full length pants while dealing with this material. In addition, make sure you work in a well-ventilated area to permit the air to circulate the fumes. Use a fan while working whenever possible.

7. Apply the stripper on the metal cabinet surface by using a thick, wide paintbrush. Let the paint stripper to sit on the cabinet's surface. You can put more paint stripper on hard-to-reach areas and corners of the cabinet. Read and follow the instructions on the paint stripper on how long should it stay on the surface. Usually, it takes five to seven minutes for the stripper to soak.

8. Once the paint begins to wrinkle, it is ready to be taken off.

9. Use the paint scraper to remove the old paint off. As much as possible eliminate all the paint that you can from the cabinet.

10. Use a hard sponge and cleaning solution to clean thoroughly the stripped metal and scrape away any paint residue from the surface of the cabinet.

11. Smooth and finish the metal cabinet's surface using sandpaper.


Removing Paint Using Natural Ingredients
Making use of natural ingredients to remove paint from metal cabinets is the best way to get rid of harmful, toxic chemicals. Aside from the fact that this method is safe, this is also less expensive.

Materials needed:
An old cooking pot, Baking Soda, Water

1. The first step is to fill the cooking pot half way with water. Ensure that this is the pot that you do not intend to use again. Get the baking soda and make a layer on the bottom of the pot and make sure that it is completely covered.

2. Take the hinges and knobs that you removed from the metal cabinet and put them all in the pot. Permit it to simmer on the stove for about 30 minutes.

3. After that, you are capable of peeling the paint away from the hinges and knobs easily.

4. To clean the cabinets, you can repeat the procedure but you can boil the water and apply it to the cabinets with a soft brush. This will soften up the paint and will enable you to peel it off as well. This method will actually take a little longer and requires more effort. At the same time, you have saved yourself from inhaling chemicals.


Painting and giving your metal cabinets a new and refreshing look is also a good way to protect it from rust and other elements that could possibly dull the metal objects. And since removing paint from metal cabinets is the first step to have its new look, this task should be done with caution. The two methods of removing paint from metal cabinets may have different steps and degree of difficulty, but one thing is constant: the procedure must be properly and carefully executed so that you can achieve your desired result.

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