[Alan Douglas]

I try not to sand. If you remove the original grain filler, you have to replace it to get a smooth finish. Also the surface wood will have aged to a uniform darker color, and if you remove some of it, you'll have to do it all.

Stains were rarely if ever used on mass-produced cabinets. Toner (basically tinted lacquer) dried much faster and was compatible with the lacquer topcoats. Toner can be dyed (transparent) or pigmented (opaque). Pigments obscure the wood grain, which is often a good thing.

It's all to easy to refinish a cabinet with eye-popping wood grain that looks nothing like the original finish.