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Yes, you can refinish cabinets without wax or orange oil. The refinishing product will work regardless of wax and oil coats, but it might not shine as much. Adding a coat of penetrating oil will bring out the grain in the wood, and the wax will help prevent wear. Also, the protective qualities of wax and oil for hardwood make it a good idea to incorporate into the restoration process.

In many cases, you can use a roller to paint detached cabinet doors and cabinet sides more quickly. However, expect at least some brush or spray gun work to complete the project, especially if your cabinets have complex insets, which are difficult to paint with a roller.

Refinishing cabinets requires a significant commitment, so even a professional will take between 40 and 120 hours on average to complete a cabinet refinishing project. In most cases, you’re looking at a week or more of work, although this depends on the number of cabinets you have and how many laborers will be working on the project. Whether you’re refinishing cabinets in your kitchen, bathroom, or office, you should plan on the room being at least partially out of commission for one to two weeks. DIY refinishing will usually take a month or two, depending on your expediency.

Technically, you can paint over stained cabinets without sanding. There are specialty paints that are made precisely for not sanding cabinets. However, many interior cabinet paints work just as well. 

To make sure you have a smooth surface without sanding, you’ll need to degrease the cabinets thoroughly, add a bonding coat for strength, add primer, and then finally paint your cabinets. It’s still a process regardless of whether you sand your cabinets.