Dark satin cabinets worn shiny near handles — interim fix before I pay for a 3rd refinish?
So I'm at my wit's end with these cabinets. Had them professionally refinished twice, in what i was told was lacquer, same painter, both times they chipped within a year. Pretty sure they skipped proper prep/priming both times. I can't justify a third full refinish right now financially, but they're looking rough.
Paint is almost black, satin finish, and near the handles it's worn completely shiny from use. A few spots are also chipping down to bare wood.
I'm not looking for a permanent fix, just something to get me through a few more years without it looking terrible. I was thinking one of these approaches:
**Clean with dish soap** to cut the grease near the handles, then assess
**Light sanding** with a fine grit to knock the shine back down to satin
OR
- **Spray a solvent-based lacquer** over the worst doors to protect and unify the sheen
Anything else?
Anyone done something like this? Is the lacquer over existing paint a bad idea? What grit would you use for just dulling gloss without removing paint? Any products that worked well for you?
Appreciate any advice ? I'm pretty handy but not a pro finisher.
