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Pro Tips on Refinishing Solid Woods Piece of furniture: A DIY-er's Guide

Updated: Dec thirteen, 2021

Refinishing quondam or antique wooden article of furniture is a popular hobby and has been growing in interest over the past several years. Information technology'southward a creative and rewarding DIY projection that tin provide you with eclectic and high-quality pieces for your home or part space.

Just at that place's a lot to know when it comes to taking on a DIY piece of furniture refinishing project. In that location are specific steps to follow and many factors to consider. Whether y'all're restoring a family heirloom or you've found a diamond in the rough, the following tips for refinishing wood furniture will help you in your next project. This guide will likewise help instruct y'all on how to refinish antique article of furniture and recognize when it'due south time to refinish your wooden tables, chairs, dressers and more than.

Wood Article of furniture Refinishing Supplies Checklist

Before getting started on your wooden furniture restoration or refinishing projection, it'south important to get all of your supplies in guild so y'all can consummate your project more than efficiently. Below is a helpful supplies checklist to follow when kickoff your side by side wood article of furniture refinishing project:

• Dish soap, sponges and towels
• Paint stripper
• Lacquer thinner
• Power sander
• Sandpaper in multiple grits
• Paint scrapers (plastic or metal)
• Epoxy putty
• Wood sealant/Varnish/Polyurethane
• Wood stain or pigment (Minwax is a great make, be sure to selection the correct color!)
• Drib cloths
• Wax blanket product
• Middle goggles
• Chemical-resistant gloves
• Vacuum cleaner

Other supplies that may come in handy include:

• Paintbrushes with natural bristles
• Painter's tape
• Plenty of make clean rags and cloths
• A bucket for clean h2o
• Stir sticks
• Empty paint or java cans
• Mucilage and clamps for repairing and reinforcing furniture

Deciding When to Refinish Antique Furniture

Earlier diving into stripping the finish off your wood dresser, table or chairs, you'll first need to decide whether it should be stripped at all. Sometimes, the wood doesn't need its existing terminate stripped away. Rather, all information technology needs is a clear coat of wipe-on end to revitalize it.

Many furniture refinishing and revitalizing enthusiasts and experts are against refinishing wooden furniture for fear that it will reduce the piece'due south monetary value. Nevertheless, the other camp of article of furniture restoration hobbyists and pros will debate that refinishing furniture extends the piece'southward longevity. They feel that if your purpose isn't to obtain a monetary return on your investment in the piece, then restoring and refinishing a piece allows y'all to get more employ out of it long-term.

If you lot're wondering what signs yous should await for when deciding to refinish antique article of furniture or if yous should restore it at all, there are some initial considerations to look at. The first step should exist to expect at the unique piece and decide whether information technology's worth undertaking a restoration project or non. Ask yourself some of the following questions:

• Is the piece painted? If a slice is painted, there'south usually a reason for it. Owners paint over pieces when they are trying to embrace up dents, stains and other imperfections. You might exist getting more than you bargained for with a painted wood piece. In some cases, you may be better off choosing a piece that merely has varnish on information technology.

• Was the piece built solidly? Pieces from before the 1960s are generally built from solid wood. Any pieces afterward that aren't commonly fabricated from solid wood and are instead made from laminates and particleboard. These materials are usually not worth refinishing. On the flip side, older wooden pieces from before 1850 tin can be quite valuable. If you aren't certain of a piece's value, consult an antiques expert before starting a refinishing project.

• Is it stable or will it demand to be re-glued? Exam out the sturdiness of the piece. If it sways from side to side or if it'due south uneven or coming apart anywhere, and so it will need to exist taken apart and re-glued (and held together with a clamp until the mucilage dries) to ensure it's stable. Ask yourself if this is a step you lot're willing to take. If then, can y'all do this yourself or will you have to hire an skilful to exercise it? If you're specifically wondering how to refinish wood dressers, pay attention to the drawers and whether they are holding together properly.

• What will it look like when it's refinished? Often when an antique is refinished, it tin turn out darker than the original wood. To get an idea of what the finished state will be similar, find an area of the piece that's yet original and in-tact. Any color it is, expect the final product to be darker. Also, ask yourself if you lot like the wood grain or not. If you don't, then it'south not worth investing your time in refinishing the slice if y'all plan to keep it for your own use.

Based on your answers to these questions, yous should be able to determine how much of your own sweat equity you're willing to invest into a furniture restoration projection. If you lot decided to motion forrard with a furniture restoration project after answering these questions, then the next footstep is to decide how you will restore it.

Choosing How to Restore Wooden Piece of furniture

Refinishing wooden furniture isn't the kickoff and merely option when it comes to bringing a piece dorsum to life. Instead of refinishing the piece completely, you may determine to simply rejuvenate or repair it. Here are three main categories of furniture restoration projects:

1. Rejuvenate: By keeping the existing finish, you lot can simply clean and wax the surface and revive the piece. This is the simplest method, and information technology works on wooden furniture that's yet in good condition.
2. Repair: Without stripping the finish, yous can repair dents and cracks by touching upwards certain worn-out areas. This method allows you to keep the stop but use special products to fix up the slice.
3. Refinish: Using a stop-stripping product or power sander, you can remove the electric current finish, make whatever necessary repairs and touch-ups and so use new end.

With these options in mind, y'all may still exist wondering if refinishing your wooden piece is the right way to go. If you lot're uncertain, then you should be aware of the unlike signs that signal it'due south time to refinish your wood furniture.

Signs It'south Time to Refinish Your Article of furniture

At that place are several dissimilar signs it's time to refinish your wood piece of furniture that you should be aware of when starting a restoration project. These include unlike items to look for and the different methods y'all should utilize when looking for these signs. Here are some of the ways yous can tell if it's time to refinish your antiquarian and wooden pieces:

• There are noticeable rings and watermarks under the existing end.
• The surface feels sticky even after it's been cleaned.
• There are worn-out patches and blemishes even after it'south been cleaned.
• The wood has become dark from the clear coat turning colour.
• The existing finish has cracked down to the wood.
• The finish is flaking and chipping off.

If your furniture piece is exhibiting whatsoever of these signs, and so it may be time to refinish the piece. Even if the piece doesn't portray all of these signs, you may yet feel that its current state looks hideous and you lot'd rather simply refinish it entirely.

But, before going to boondocks with the chemic stripping agents on your wooden piece of furniture, you can utilise the mineral spirits method (see video below) to decide if the slice needs to be refinished or not. This involves pouring some mineral spirits over the surface of your wooden chair, table or dresser.

You tin wipe on the mineral spirits over a patch of the forest and wait for it to saturate. This will reveal how the terminate will expect if yous skip the refinishing steps and just utilise a articulate glaze. If the finish looks good, then you don't have to dive into the refinishing procedure. Instead, you'll simply clean the piece and apply a clear coat cease.

Our Best Tips for Refinishing Furniture

If you've decided that you are going to movement forward with refinishing your forest furniture, and then there are a few guidelines to follow.

Below are half-dozen essential steps that accost how to refinish wood furniture and how to strip finished forest:

Pace 1: Clean the Piece

The most fundamental step of any furniture refinishing or renewing projection is to requite the piece in question a good and thorough clean. This is especially true if the slice has been in storage or has been kept exterior for an extended time. Additionally, if you don't know exactly where the piece came from, it's likely covered in a layer of grime from dust and dirt buildup.

Many people recollect that using a heavy-duty cleaner will work more effectively on an especially dirty piece. Even so, the simplest and most constructive manner to make clean the piece and protect it is to simply use a mixture of dish soap and warm water. Some of the pros suggest using Dawn or a similar make of dish detergent to become the task done.

Scrub downward the surface using gentle strokes with a soaped-up sponge, or use a paintbrush if your piece has moldings and carvings to become into. Once y'all've scrubbed the surface clean, rinse it off with fresh h2o using the wrung-out sponge. Once the soap has been cleared away, pat the piece dry with a towel.

Step 2: Assess the Furniture's Current State

Once you've cleaned the piece, you'll accept a better thought of the overall scale of the project. If you're dealing with an particularly old slice, yous may notice at that place are white rings, paint stains, dents, chips and cracks.

Take an overall cess of the piece and determine what will need to be washed to brand these repairs. This will help you determine which supplies y'all'll need such as scrapers, epoxy putty and wax filling compound.

Pace iii: Remove Old Finish

If you've never washed so, then you lot may be wondering how to strip terminate off of woods. There are 2 main ways to exercise it. The first way is to sand it off, and the second way is to use a chemical stripper:

• Sanding: Use a coarse sandpaper, a sanding block or a ability sander to strip the cease off until the surface is smoothen. Once most of the cease is off, switch to medium dust sandpaper to further remove any polish. Finally, finish off with a fine grit sandpaper to smooth out the wood until all end is completely removed. Don't forget to evaluate your sanding job to stop upwards with a perfect finish by referring to the Youtube video in a higher place.
• Chemical stripper: Chemical stripping products are designed to effortlessly strip the finish off wood. Choose a liquid or semi-paste production that that may or may non contain methylene chloride (MC). Spread the stripper over the surface of the woods evenly using a bristle castor.

Let the stripper sit for the amount of fourth dimension recommended by the stripping product, the surface material should contraction up and y'all tin can peel it off with a scraper. Proceed to use a scraper until you've scraped all the finish off. Apply a lacquer thinner to wipe downwards the forest and remove whatsoever leftover rest, finish, or wax from the stripper.

If yous've never stripped terminate off of forest before, here are some tips y'all tin can follow to make the job safer and easier:

• Habiliment protective gear including center goggles and chemical-resistant gloves.
• Read the chemical stripper production label before first and follow as directed (peculiarly the amount of time to allow the stripper sit on the surface of the wood).
• Use driblet cloths or cardboard underneath the furniture before sanding or using the chemical stripper.
• Utilise chemical stripper using fast and even brush strokes as the production will begin to evaporate.
• Utilise a brush with natural bristles to go into grooves.
• Reapply another glaze of stripper over the meridian if the cease doesn't remove afterward xxx minutes of soaking.
• Let the piece air dry for 24 hours earlier moving on to the adjacent step.
• Dispose of the leftover chemical products safely past first checking with your local waste disposal company.

Step 4: Utilise a Coat of Sealant

After you've stripped the end and let the piece fully dry, it's fourth dimension to motion on to blanket. If yous've used a chemical stripping product, you may need to sand the furniture surface using 120 dust paper to ensure yous've completely removed any residue.

An optional step is to fill in the grain of your wood furniture to your liking. If your furniture has a tight woods grain, and then information technology won't need grain filler. However, if your furniture has a more open up grain such as with oak or mahogany woods, then yous can apply a grain filler. Yous'll need to choose the correct grain filling production depending on whether you want to emphasize or de-emphasize the grain and what the desired color volition be in the stop. As well check whether the grain filling product should be applied before or afterwards staining.

Finally, yous'll want to seal the woods to prepare it for staining. A sealant production protects the wood and creates a base of operations for the stain to spread more evenly. Apply a thick coat of sealant and let information technology to soak into the woods. Wipe off whatsoever excess using a clean rag. Once the sealant has dried, sand down the furniture surfaces again with fine grit sandpaper.

Step 5: Stain or Paint the Forest

The adjacent step later applying the sealant, is to stain or pigment your wood furniture piece. This is a personal decision, and there isn't necessarily a right or wrong respond. When choosing betwixt staining or painting your wood furniture piece consider the following:

• If the piece is an antique, you lot may non desire to pigment over it and so it tin can retain its actuality.
• If you don't like the existing color or grain of the woods, then you may prefer it to exist painted a different color.
• If the piece volition exist used in a high-traffic surface area, it may be more resistant to damage with a stain and sealant than with paint.
• If the piece isn't constructed from high-quality materials, and so you lot may cull to pigment it to make it wait improve.

There are several options to choose from when it comes to stains. In that location are water-based, oil-based or gel stains. There are also products that are a ii-in-ane stain and cease. Exist sure to follow the instructions on the production characterization before beginning the staining step. Minwax is a groovy brand of stain to utilize. There are many colors to choose from so exist sure to test the stain color on another piece of woods before applying to your furniture.

Paints also take multiple options to choose from. In that location are unlike paint finishes such as oil-based enamel or latex that will provide a durable coating. Follow the instructions on the production characterization before applying the coat of paint.

Step 6: Apply a Glaze of End

The last stride later staining or painting your wooden article of furniture piece is to apply a finish coat. There are different end products to choose from. Your choice volition depend on several factors including:

• The woods furniture expect you desire
• The durability you lot demand
• The type of wood your piece of furniture is fabricated from
• How the item will be used and how frequently
• Your ain skill level

Because sure finishes are meant to be sprayed on, they require additional spray tools to become the job done. For beginners and hobbyists, it'south recommended to use finishes you can wipe or brush on.

Here are some of the many types of brush- and wipe-on finishes to choose from:

• Oil finishes: These are like shooting fish in a barrel products to come by, and they are simple to employ. Oil finishes tend to soak into the wood well and brand for easy rejuvenation after. They don't offer much surface protection, so they are better to utilize on pieces like chairs or dressers instead of tabletops.
• Wipe-on varnish: Wipe-on varnish products tin can be applied in multiple coats if desired. This allows yous to control the level of sheen that your article of furniture will have in the end.
• Polyurethane varnish: Oil-based castor-on polyurethane varnishes are durable and can protect your furniture from scratches and dents for years to come. This type of finish is suitable for coffee, dining and kitchen tables that endure a lot of wear and tear. Polyurethane can take on a yellowish tint over time.
• Wax: Furniture wax is a mixture of oil-based and natural ingredients similar carnauba or beeswax. When wax is beginning applied with a paintbrush or material, it appears dull. Buffing brings out a satin sheen.
• Water-based finish:H2o-based sealants like polycrylic dry quickly with no toxic fumes. A water-based end dries clear and will not xanthous with age, although it can take on a milky appearance if yous apply thick coats or use it heavily on top of dark wood.
• Shellac: Created from a durable resin secreted by lac bugs, shellac wood end provides a difficult end on floors, furniture and antiques. This wax-like terminate is mixed with a solvent and may demand to be thinned before application.
• Lacquer:Available in glossy or matte coatings, lacquer is more than durable than shellac and offers superior scratch protection on piece of furniture. Always employ lacquer in a well-ventilated area due to fumes.

One time you've selected the best finish production for your specific furniture piece, you can add together a glaze of paste wax to enhance its luster and further protect information technology from scratches.

Last-Minute Tips on Refinishing Wooden Article of furniture

Now that you have a better understanding of the process of deciding when to refinish wood furniture and how to exercise it, here are some helpful tips to consider forth the way:

1. Utilise total or natural light: When staining or painting and finishing your woods furniture piece, be sure that you're working in a fully lit space. This will assistance y'all to come across any drips, runs or missed spots before information technology's too late.
2. Keep your workspace make clean: Throughout the whole furniture refinishing process, remember to keep your workspace as clean as possible. This includes vacuuming up dust after sanding. Dust particles can get trapped to the wood's surface and get underneath the stains and topcoats. In one case y'all've vacuumed the dust, wipe downward the forest with a damp textile earlier applying the stop.
3. Stir products: Never shake a container of stain or end. Instead, gently stir the mixture to ensure all ingredients are properly dispersed and not settled at the lesser.
4. Test the stain color: Don't rely on what the samples tell you when deciding how the stain will look. Always examination the stain first on a discrete expanse of your furniture before applying all over. This will prevent any unwanted surprises when you begin to cover the more prominent areas.

Preserving Your Woods Furniture

Once you've completed your wood furniture refinishing or restoration project, information technology's of import to maintain and protect your piece as much as possible. This includes regularly dusting and cleaning your piece and preventing impairment.

If you're looking to invest in new high-quality wooden furniture for your home, browse through our inventory at AmishOutletStore.com to encounter our beautiful selection of handmade dining, living and bedroom pieces. Our solid wooden furniture pieces come up in a multifariousness of finishes and will terminal for generations to come up.

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Source: https://www.amishoutletstore.com/blog/pro-tips-refinishing-solid-wood-furniture-diy-guide/

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