Finishing raised panel cabinet doors

[latnluv]

So I have a dilema (this is my first post).

I'm currently undertaking a full kitchen remodel. We are at the one year mark (told my wife originally it would take 3 months :U ) and I'm down to finishing the first batch of doors (18 of a total of 48). Doors are raised panel, quarter-sawn oak, quasi-shaker style (outside door edges have 1/16" roundover). I've pre-finished the panels before assembling and doors (used oil-based poly....painter's pyramid worked great for this). After staining the rails and stiles, I've come to realization that brushing on the poly is going to be a challenge if I use the painter's pyramid as I did with the panels. I'm really concerned about any run-offs that I will have along the edges or side that will be faced down (during dry time). I had also thought about maybe finishing doors in vertical position, but can't seem to find an efficient techinque of doing this.

Has anyone else encountered a good way of brushing poly on rail/stiles (on both sides and edges), besides using very light coats, good brush, plenty of lighting and lots of patience? BTW: I'm pretty set on using both a brush and oil-based poly.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Manny

[paul k]

Hi manny .

I don't envy the task in front of you , all those rails and styles , Personally i would have assembled the whole lot , hung them up using the predrilled holes for the hinges and sprayed them , building up slowly with light coates . The only thing i can come up with is , assemble a door , tape off the panel use some sacraficial hinges and attach to door , attach other side of hinge to another vertical surface . There you go one swinging door allowing you to paint all surfaces in one go. Hope it helps Manny , we all have to keep the little women happy .

best of luck Paul :rolleyes:

[latnluv]

Thanks for the idea Paul! You got me thinking about also possibly using the holes for the handles as hanging points instead of the hinges. Well either way...looks like I'm going to have some fun varnishing in my garage with the start of a heatwave occurring in Sacramento.

Thanks again.