kitchen cupboards
length 10' x 3', total of 60'
how long should it take to strip the varnish and ready for staining

All depends on what you are using, what medium, to remove the old varnish. How old is the varnish ? Is it actually varnish or urethane, or something else ?

Tick

Heavy duty marine stripper from a paint store, varnish probably not more than 15 years old, I would guess some kind of poly since it comes off easy with 3 separate coats of stripper.

That's a loaded question Much depends on how thick the old finish is and how aggressive you are and products you use.

That said, If the cabinets are already stained and dull and you like its color. No NEED to strip it all down to bare unstained wood. That's usually more trouble then its worth. Refacing and new doors would be the way to go at that point.

To bring life back into the cabs if color is liked. We simply use steel wool #0 or 00 to sand off the shiny finish. Basically you have a stained dull cabinet. If you have some "Lighter" spots from steel wooling I use Mimwax Stain and an old sock to wipe over that light area to blend it in. After that vacuum cabs and use a tack rag to get all the particles off cab. I like Mimwax Spar urethane for the refinish. So in order
1 Sand old finish until dull'
2. Vacuum cab then tack rag
3. One coat of clear urethane.
4. Lightly re-sand steel wool# 000
5. vacuum again/tack rag 2nd coat finish
You can stop there or do a third coat depending on what you want. 3rd coats a charm.

Note. Always pour clear finish in a separate can to apply each coat. That way you don't contaminate the can of clear finish.

Time wise 60' one person give it at least 4 or 5 days if you are stripping all it off to bare wood add a day or so.

Hi, cmartineau!

I presume that you're meaning the outside of the cabinets, like doors, draw fronts and the frame. Is that correct?

Thanks!