Sanding raised panel doors requires more work because you cannot fit a sander around the edges of the panels.
How to sand a panel door.
Before assembling the door sand the panel itself and the moulded section surrounding the field.
The principles in sanding a door apply to almost any frame and panel construction which is stock in trade in my furniture business.
This will roughen the surface a little and allow the primer to adhere better.
The finish becomes worn over time creating the need for refinishing.
Sand with non clogging 180 or 220 grit sandpaper or sanding sponges look for non clogging or stearated on the label.
After the finish has dried overnight gently hand sand it with 220 grit paper.
Back off the sandpaper and use a synthetic steel wool 3m multi flex is what i use for the raised panel and detail parts of the door.
Refinishing doors is not a job that anyone really looks forward to especially raised panel doors.
After sanding remove dust from the area before priming or painting.
Reattach the hardware and rehang the door.
Smooth out chipped paint and imperfections from previous paint jobs.
Start with a light sandpaper or a sanding sponge 180 or 220 grit.
Sand the back of the panel and the field with 100 120 150 and 180 grit paper.
Dust and sand with 280 grit paper then put on the final coat.
This is usually the most time consuming tedious part of the project.
Before painting clean the door with a degreasing cleaner.
Apply two or more coats of spar varnish allowing each coat to dry.
Sand the door smooth.
You don t want to sand through to bare wood dust the door and wipe it down with a tack cloth.
Fill holes and repair imperfections with sandable filler or spackle.
It may seem like a lot of work but it shouldn t take more than five minutes when the door is flat on the sawhorses.
Sand the door again with 150 grit followed by 220 grit sandpaper.
A good sand job on a heavily detailed cabinet door shouldn t take more than 15 minutes 7 8min per side.
Put down drop cloths.
Watch our step by step video showing how to paint an external door with expert advice and top tips to help you complete the job with confidence.
Apply one to two coats of penetrating stain wiping off any excess.
Brush on the second coat following the same order and let it dry overnight.
For the smoothest possible topcoat hand sand the entire door after the primer and between coats of paint.