Akorn provides custom cabinet doors which require staining and lacquering or painting. I highly recommend trying out the stain and lacquering prior to finishing the doors to ensure that the stain and lacquer meets your expectations. A small piece of wood selected from the same species that you selected for your cabinet doors can be obtained at most hardware stores. Practice applying the stain and whitewash if desired. I personally like Watco stains, which require 3 days for the stain to dry prior to applying lacquer. I also like Varathane polyurethane as my topcoat, or “lacquer”. I typically brush the cabinets since there is more surface area to reduce cost, and utilize the spray can for doors since they are visually under more scrutiny. Either when I brush or spray Varathane, I typically lightly sand between coats to knock down the high spots. Varathane recommends a minimum of 3 coats, and I average around 4 to 6 coats. While all topcoats are nearly clear, there is still a dulling of color which will happen. It may be more superstition than science, but I don’t mix water based and oil based stains and lacquers since I do not want to deal with possible problems. Once your sample is done, place it in the room around where the finished cabinet will be and check how the sunlight during the day and the lighting at night bring out different tones in the wood.
I once accidently purchased Spar Varathane when rushing through the hardware store which is intended for UV protection, and needs UV light to cure…so check the label twice before checking out!
I recommend practicing these steps prior to receiving your custom raised panel kitchen cabinet doors which can be done while your order is being manufactured.
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Cabinet doors that require staining, lacquering, or painting are also referred to as “unfinished cabinet doors”.