I have polyurethaned kitchen cabinet doors that I want to paint. How is the best way to prepare them?

Question:Also, is refininshing the hinges a good idea? Painting them or how about electroplating them to match my painted doors? Any insight? If painting them is there a preferred method to prepare them?

Answers:
I assume you mean clear-coated poly wood surfaces. You must first remove doors, number them and get rid of the poly, either by sanding or by chemical paint removers. Then, you will have to sand the doors smooth by increasingly finer sandpapaper treatments, finishing with probably a 220 grit. If you use a water-based product to remove the poly, wait a day before sanding to let the grain rise up. I highly recommend a primer before painting. I like water-based primers because they are easier to clean-up and dry faster. However, if you are using an oil-based paint, you should also have an oil-based primer. You will have to sand the primer before painting, to smooth bumps and to give it "tooth." There is the possibility of doing all this without removing the poly in the first place: just sand and prime and paint. But, the easy way yields inferior results. Depends upon how long you want to keep the cabinet doors. Painted hinges look amateurish. Remove the paint with a remover, and sand or polish them, or if you must, electroplate them. If you sand or polish, give them a light coat of clear coat poly to keep them in tip-top shape. Paint your cabinets with a gloss or semi-gloss because that finish wears and cleans the best.