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How to stain a particleboard buffet?

Hi team,

Working on my Ikea Skruby buffet after i have got some level of confidence from my first project( which i havent completed yet ☺️)

I am planning to just stain My Ikea Skruby (TOP only)in Walnut colour using the Cabots water based Stain and Varnish to match my other furniture. The top is made of particleboard as in the pic attached.

From all i have read online and in videos i understand that i need to sand it first then use a primer and stain /paint it.

But i have also got advise that since its brand new finished product and since i am trying to get a walnut color wood look for it all i need to is Sand once — clean — apply one coat — light sand again — and then coat.

This should suffice. Sanding with 120Grit.

Confused on the right approach.

Need advise.

Since i am not painting do i really need to prime it ?

For long term and to not have any issues i should sand prime and then stain?

Which primer is recommended in that case as i am trying to get a walnut stain done?

Any other advise ?

Thanks Heaps

Mads

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EricL

Hello @Mads1805

Thanks for sharing your question about painting your cabinet top in a Walnut finish. Before you begin, can you please check if the surface of the cabinet top is laminated timber or real wood. I currently have something similar in my home which is bamboo but is clearly too smooth to be a bamboo surface. A laminated surface can look and feel like the real thing, but you'll notice that they will have surface joins on them especially at the ends where the laminate meets another sheet. Real timber will have a single homogenous surface both at the top and bottom.

Another way to find out if you have a laminated surface is at the ends of the cabinet top. The panel will have a non-uniform edging that goes against the grain of the surface of the top. One other way to be sure is to call the supplier and ask them if it is real timber or a compressed particle board with a laminated surface. If it is a laminated top, it cannot be painted or sanded.

However, if it is real timber the general steps are to sand the surface of the timber top back to wood making sure that all of the old sealer has been removed. start with 120grit and finish with a 240 grit for a smooth finish. Clean the surface very well making sure that there is no sanding dust left. You can then apply the first coat to the surface of the wood. Wait for the first coat to cure then do a light sand on the surface. Once clean you can then apply the second coat.

Here is a handy step-by-step guide: How To Restore Wooden Furniture

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Mads1805

Hi Eric,

Thanks for the response. Yes it seems laminate covered particleboard and definitely not wood.

In that case, do I have any options to get that walnut colour as I cannot paint or stain ?

Is contact paper an option ? Any recommendation?

EricL

Hello @Mads1805

If you can find a good quality contact paper that can mimic the finish of walnut, then that option would open to you. The only other option I can suggest is to consider changing your laminated top for a real timber top such as the Specrite 1200 x 600 x 18mm Timber Multi Use Pine Panel. This is real wood and you can cut it down and sand it down to a smooth finish. You can then apply your walnut stain on its surface.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

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