Please help my plan to refinish kitchen cabinets

[usatu]

Hi-I am in the process of refinishing my kitchen cabinets and really need your suggestions and comments to avoid any big mistakes down the road. So far I have stripped the vanish/paint  by using ctristrip. Most of the finish are gone but there are some spots left on the wood. Now I start the sanding process to bare wood. It is really hard to get to the crevasses and get rid of all finishes. Originally they used the dark grey for glazing. I am spending way too much time on removing that, but still some grey/black spots left in the crevasses and corners. Any recommendations for tools to handle it? Or I don't need to be too thorough? Please advise.

Then I plan to use blower and mineral spirit to clean the surfaces. I bought the kilz max primer. Plan to do 2 coats and sand in between. Lastly, I will spray Kem Aqua plus 2 coats and sand in between. Will Kilz work just fine? Or I need get some shellac or surfacer for primer?

Additional question about kitchen island color, if cabinet is white dove (ben moore color), what would be good colors for kitchen island. Granite top is brown, grey, black blend like the picture.

I also want to replace/add moldings to cabinets. Should I paint after I install the moldings?

Thanks so much in advance.

 

[Holmz]

I find it easier to paint stuff on saw horses, rather than genuflecting on the floor.
Then one can always touch up the missed bits after it is installed, and not have to mask everywhere a slop paint around.
(But I am also a bit lazy)

 

[junk731]

I would recommend talking to SW and use a primer that is compatible with their product. They have a few to work with, using a different brand can sometimes lead to problems.

John

 

[Cheese]

It is really hard to get to the crevasses and get rid of all finishes. Originally they used the dark grey for glazing. I am spending way too much time on removing that, but still some grey/black spots left in the crevasses and corners. Any recommendations for tools to handle it? Or I don't need to be too thorough? Please advise.

I wouldn't worry that much about the inside corners. Just make sure the surfaces are smooth and blend in well to one another, no sharp paint edges or lips. After 2 coats of primer and 2 top coats, everything will blend in. There's probably no lighting inside the cabinet and it will be stacked with dishes or food items. Your eyes will not be drawn to the inside corners.

You can make it easier on yourself if you use a carbide scraper in the corners. The examples below are by Bahco with replaceable carbide blades.

 

[usatu]

Thank you all! That's very helpful. Any color suggestions for island to go with white dove?