Refinish Furniture

Choosing a Piece to Refinish

The first step to refinish furniture is to choose a piece. Don't be distracted by the chair, table, or desk's shabby finish. You'll be redoing that. Also, don't fret about small nicks and scuffs. Those will all come out in the sanding. What you do need to look for is sturdiness. Broken legs, wobbly tables, and ill-fitting drawers are all "deal-breakers." The exception to this is a small repair that you are sure you can achieve, such as re-gluing a detail piece. Otherwise, sturdy is the goal.

Look for well-constructed pieces at yard and estate sales or at flea markets. You can even occasionally find a "treasure" on the tree lawn on trash day. Remember: just because it's one person's trash… You also might search in grandmother's – or great aunt Rose's – attic. One generation's "old furniture" can be the next generation's heirloom.

Stripping

The next step to refinish furniture is to strip off all of the old paint or varnish. This is the messy – and smelly – part. Pick a well-ventilated, cool location. A garage, with the door open, in the spring or fall is ideal. Before you begin, remove any drawer or cabinet hardware. Use a commercial stripping solution (available at big box home improvement stores) to remove the old paint and finish.

Wear rubber gloves, goggles, and a mask when applying the stripper. Paint the solution on the piece liberally and let it soak it for two to four hours to loosen the old paint. Gently remove the paint with a putty knife, being careful not to gouge the piece of furniture. Stubborn paint may require a second coat.

Refinish Furniture: Sanding

Next, use fine grain sandpaper to remove any remnants of paint and to smooth over any nicks or marks in the piece. Dust the piece with a clean paint brush to remove the sanding dust. Finally, wipe down the entire piece with a damp cloth and wipe dry to remove any stubborn dirt.

If the piece needs any minor repairs, this is the time to glue on detail work or re-enforce drawers.

Staining

Next, apply the stain. Prepare by setting the pieces you're going to stain up on benches or wooden horses, touching as few spots as possible. If you touch the piece before the stain is dry, it will likely leave a mark. Stir the stain well. (Don't shake.) Apply the stain with a brush in long, smooth strokes. Wipe the stain off per instructions on the stain can. This can be anywhere from ten minutes to two hours. Allow the stained sections to dry completely before moving them and staining the other half. When dry, use a very fine grade sand paper to smooth out any rough areas.

Sealing

Finish your new heirloom by applying a sealing coat of clear, poly-acrylic finish. This will help protect your new treasure from stains and marks. Allow this coat to dry thoroughly, for at least 24 hours.