After the finish has dried overnight gently hand sand it with 220 grit paper.
How to sand a panel door.
Before assembling the door sand the panel itself and the moulded section surrounding the field.
Reattach the hardware and rehang the door.
Apply one to two coats of penetrating stain wiping off any excess.
Use 120 grit sandpaper to gently sand the door for a smoother surface that will absorb primer or paint more easily.
Refinishing doors is not a job that anyone really looks forward to especially raised panel doors.
Smooth out chipped paint and imperfections from previous paint jobs.
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.
Sanding raised panel doors requires more work because you cannot fit a sander around the edges of the panels.
Sand the door again with 150 grit followed by 220 grit sandpaper.
The finish becomes worn over time creating the need for refinishing.
Fill holes and repair imperfections with sandable filler or spackle.
Apply two or more coats of spar varnish allowing each coat to dry.
After sanding remove dust from the area before priming or painting.
A good sand job on a heavily detailed cabinet door shouldn t take more than 15 minutes 7 8min per side.
Sand the door smooth.
Dust and sand with 280 grit paper then put on the final coat.
Sand the back of the panel and the field with 100 120 150 and 180 grit paper.
This will roughen the surface a little and allow the primer to adhere better.
Watch this video to find out more.
Put down drop cloths.
Start with a light sandpaper or a sanding sponge 180 or 220 grit.
For the smoothest possible topcoat hand sand the entire door after the primer and between coats of paint.
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.
This is usually the most time consuming tedious part of the project.
Sand with non clogging 180 or 220 grit sandpaper or sanding sponges look for non clogging or stearated on the label.
Brush on the second coat following the same order and let it dry overnight.
Before painting clean the door with a degreasing cleaner.
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.