A Fresh Look At Old Furniture

Refinishing old wooden furniture can be a creative and rewarding DIY project that provides you with high-quality pieces for your home. Whether you’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. 

If you’re wondering what signs you should look for when deciding to refinish your furniture or if you should restore it at all, there are some initial considerations to look at. The first step should be to look at the unique piece and determine whether it’s worth undertaking a restoration project or not. Ask yourself some of the following questions:

Is the piece painted?

If a piece is painted, there’s usually a reason for it. Owners paint over pieces when they are trying to cover up dents, stains and other imperfections. You might be getting more than you bargained for with a painted wood piece. In some cases, you may be better off choosing a piece that only has varnish on it.

Was the piece built solidly?

Pieces from before the 1960s are generally built from solid wood. Any pieces after that aren’t usually made 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 can be quite valuable. If you aren’t sure of a piece’s value, consult an antique expert before starting a refinishing project.

Is it stable or will it need to be re-glued?

Test out the sturdiness of the piece. If it sways from side to side or if it’s uneven or coming apart anywhere, then it will need to be taken apart and re-glued (and held together with a clamp until the glue dries) to ensure it’s stable. Ask yourself if this is a step you’re willing to take. If so, can you do this yourself or will you have to hire an expert to do it? If you’re specifically wondering how to refinish wood dressers, pay attention to the drawers and whether they are holding together properly.

Based on your answers to these questions, you should be able to determine how much of your own sweat equity you’re willing to invest in a furniture restoration project. 

Wood Furniture Refinishing Supplies Checklist

Before getting started on your wooden furniture restoration or refinishing project, it’s important to get all of your supplies in order so you can complete your project more efficiently. Below is a helpful supplies checklist to follow when beginning your next wood furniture refinishing project:

• Dish soap, sponges and towels
• Paint stripper
• Power sander
• Sandpaper in multiple grits
• Paint scrapers (plastic or metal)
• Epoxy putty
• Wood sealant/Varnish/Polyurethane
• Wood stain or paint (be sure to pick the correct color)
• Drop cloths
• Wax coating product
• Eye protection
• Latex gloves
• Vacuum cleaner

Other supplies that may come in handy include:

• Paintbrushes
• Painter’s tape
• Plenty of clean rags and cloths
• A bucket for clean water
• Stir sticks
• Glue and clamps for repairing and reinforcing furniture if needed

Best Tips for Refinishing Furniture

If you’ve decided that you are going to move forward with refinishing your wood furniture, then there are a few guidelines to follow.

Below are six essential steps that address how to refinish wood furniture and how to strip finished wood:

Step 1: Clean the Piece

The most fundamental step of any furniture refinishing or renewing project is to give the piece in question a good and thorough clean. This is especially true if the piece has been in storage or has been kept outside 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 think that using a heavy-duty cleaner will work more effectively on an especially dirty piece. However, the simplest and most effective way to clean the piece and protect it is to simply use a mixture of dish soap and warm water. Most trusted professionals suggest using Dawn or a similar brand of dish detergent to get the job done.

Scrub down the surface using gentle strokes with a soaped-up sponge. Once you’ve scrubbed the surface clean, rinse it off with fresh water using the wrung-out sponge. After 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 have a better idea of the overall scale of the project. If you’re dealing with an especially old piece, you may find there are white rings, paint stains, dents, chips and cracks.

Take an overall assessment of the piece and determine what will need to be done to make these repairs. This will help you determine which supplies you’ll need such as scrapers, epoxy putty and wax filling compound.

Step 3: Remove Old Finish

If you’ve never done so, then you may be wondering how to strip the finish off of wood. There are two main ways to do this. The first way is to sand it off and the second way is to use a chemical stripper:

Sanding:

Caution if your furniture has a thin veneer sanding the finish is not a good option as you can sand right through it and cause difficulty to repair the damage. Also, keep in mind the dust that will be created will cause a lot of extra clean-up. Use coarse sandpaper, a sanding block or a power sander to strip the finish off until the surface is smooth. Once most of the finish is off, switch to medium grit sandpaper to further remove any shine. Finally, finish off with a fine-grit sandpaper to smooth out the wood until all finish is completely removed. 

Chemical Stripper:

Caution carefully research the product you want to use to make sure you are not exposing yourself to harmful chemicals. There are safer chemical stripping options available. Our recommended source for safer chemical stripping options is Max Strip. https://maxstrip.com/ Chemical stripping products are designed to effortlessly strip the finish off wood. Spread the stripper over the surface of the wood evenly using a paintbrush. Let the stripper sit for the amount of time recommended by the stripping product, when it's ready you can scrape it off. Continue to use a scraper or paint stripping pad for detailed areas until you’ve scraped all the finish off. Be sure to wipe down the wood (Max Strip only requires water while other products may require lacquer thinner) and remove any leftover residue, finish, or wax from the stripper.

Stripping with Max Strip Paint & Varnish Stripper

If you’ve never stripped the finish off of wood before, here are some tips you can follow to make the job safer and easier:

• Wear protective gear including eye goggles, and gloves.
• Read the chemical stripper product label before beginning and follow as directed (especially the amount of time to let the stripper sit on the surface of the wood).
• Use drop cloths or plastic underneath the furniture before sanding or using the chemical stripper.
• Apply chemical stripper using fast and even brushstrokes as the product will begin to evaporate.
• Use a brush to get into grooves.
• Reapply another coat of stripper over the top of any finish that doesn’t remove after 30 minutes of soaking.
• Let the piece air dry for 24 hours before moving on to the next step.
• Dispose of the leftover chemical products safely by first checking with your local waste disposal company. (Max Strip product can be disposed of safely in your household garbage)

Step 4: Apply a Coat of Sealant

After you’ve stripped the finish and let the piece fully dry, it’s time to move on to coating. If you’ve used a chemical stripping product, you may need to sand the furniture surface using 120 grit paper to ensure you’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 wood grain, then it won’t need grain filler. However, if your furniture has a more open grain such as with oak or mahogany woods, then you can apply a grain filler. You’ll need to choose the correct grain filling product depending on whether you want to emphasize or de-emphasize the grain and what the desired color will be in the end. Also, check whether the grain filling product should be applied before or after staining.

Finally, you’ll want to seal the wood to prepare it for staining. A sealant product protects the wood and creates a base for the stain to spread more evenly. Apply a thick coat of sealant and allow it to soak into the wood. Wipe off any 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 Wood

The next step after applying the sealant is to stain or paint your wood furniture piece. This is a personal decision, and there isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer. When choosing between staining or painting your wood furniture piece consider the following:

• If the piece is antique, you may not want to paint over it so it can retain its authenticity.
• If you don’t like the existing color or grain of the wood, then you may prefer it to be painted a different color.
• If the piece will be used in a high-traffic 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, then you may choose to paint it to make it look better.
• There are several options to choose from when it comes to stains. There are water-based, oil-based or gel stains. There are also products that are a two-in-one stain and finish. Be sure to follow the instructions on the product label before beginning the staining step. There are many colors to choose from so be sure to test the stain color on another piece of wood before applying it to your furniture.
• Paints also have multiple options to choose from. There are different paint finishes such as oil-based enamel or latex that will provide a durable coating. Follow the instructions on the product label before applying the coat of paint.

Step 6: Apply a Coat of Finish

The last step after staining or painting your wooden furniture piece is to apply a finish coat. There are different finish products to choose from. Your choice will depend on several factors including:

• The wood furniture look you desire
• The durability you need
• The type of wood your furniture is made from
• How the item will be used and how frequently
• Your own skill level

Because certain finishes are meant to be sprayed on, they require additional spray tools to get the job done. For beginners and hobbyists, it’s recommended to use finishes you can wipe or brush on.

Once you’ve selected the best finish product for your specific furniture piece, you can add a coat of paste wax to enhance its luster and further protect it from scratches.

Last-Minute Tips on Refinishing Wooden Furniture

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

Use Full or Natural Light:

When staining or painting your wood furniture piece, be sure that you’re working in a fully lit space. This will help you to see any drips, runs or missed spots before it’s too late.

Keep Your Workspace 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 on the wood’s surface and get underneath the stains and topcoats. Once you’ve vacuumed the dust, wipe down the wood with a damp cloth before applying the finish.

Stir Products:

Never shake a container of stain or finish. Instead, gently stir the mixture to ensure all ingredients are properly dispersed and not settled at the bottom.

Test the Stain Color:

Don’t rely on what the samples tell you when deciding how the stain will look. Always test the stain first on a discrete area of your furniture before applying it all over. This will prevent any unwanted surprises when you begin to cover the more prominent areas.

Preserving Your Wood Furniture

Once you’ve completed your wood furniture refinishing or restoration project, it’s important to maintain and protect your piece as much as possible. This includes regularly dusting and cleaning your piece and preventing damage.

Thank you for reading. Be sure to subscribe to our blog! If you want to learn more about furniture refinishing or get some great removal project ideas, visit our website MAXstrip.com or check us out on YouTube at The Max Strip Channel

Top 10 Awesome DIY Paint Projects You Can do This Weekend

Nothing makes a weekend more enjoyable than adding a great DIY project to make your favorite room pop! Introducing a splash of color or a new design feature can really change the whole feel of a home. If you are in need of some inspiration or are just looking for touch of dimension, take a look at these top 10 DIY paint projects.

01 Say Hello to Stencils

If you're ready to make a style statement with your accent wall, consider using a wall stencil to add a bit of depth into your accent wall. A wall stencil DIY project gives you complete control of choosing your favorite design and paint colors with an end result everyone will love! There are many simple DIY paint projects that creates big changes with a little bit of paint. To pull your room's design together, repeat your accent wall pattern with a matching area rug or pillow fabrics.

02 In With the Old, Out With the New

Even the most beautiful old furniture can benefit from a color makeover. If you have a piece of furniture that you love but are seriously wondering if it still fits your style, try this DIY paint update project. The key to a stunning paint makeover is adding a pop of unexpected color. For a hutch or buffet, painted shelves in a bold color are highlighted by a more serious color on the outside. A bookcase can be updated by painting the inside back or interior shelves with a pop of color. For a longer lasting paint job, safely strip existing coating first to ensure you are receiving the best results. You can count on Max Strip Paint & Varnish Stripper to get the removal job done quickly and efficiently! 

03 Just a Splash

Painting over your plain white ceiling is a subtle way to add color to any room. Dining and living rooms are the perfect spots for ceiling color, especially with a trayed ceiling or decorative molding that separates the new paint color from the walls. Though painting your ceiling can be a DIY painting project, make sure you have the right tools and patience to complete your project!

04 Let's Add Some Fun

Dry Erase Paint will give you unlimited color options for a DIY writing and drawing surface in your home. Any kitchen, home office, or studio would be the perfect spot for a colorful dry-erase surface to help you stay organized or be more creative. Turn a piece of furniture, a section of your wall or door, into a colorful dry-erase board with just a few coats of paint. 

05 Chalk It Out 

Imagine the possibilities for your home when you try a chalkboard paint DIY project. Chalkboard paint can be used on walls, inside cabinet doors, and even on furniture. With the advances in chalkboard paint, you can now get it in most paint colors too!

06 Bright and Bold 

Updating your front door with a bright paint color is the top curb appeal booster for your home. Front door color inspiration can come from your garden, your home's architectural style, or your interior décor. Once you've chosen your color, you'll want to make sure you have the tools and the instructions for this DIY project before you begin. For a longer-lasting paint job, safely strip existing coatings first! My favorite safer stripper is Max Strip Paint & Varnish Stripper!

07 Unexpected Dimension 

Your furniture doesn't have to be an heirloom or designer piece to be stylish. Laminate furniture can be transformed with paint. You can paint your laminate furniture in one great color, try a color-block design, or even a pattern. 

08 Trendy Accents 

Everyone knows that accent walls are one of the easiest ways to transform any room with color. Adding an accent wall is a simple way to add an accent color to a tired color palette, or add a focal point to a room without any architectural features. Any color can be used for your accent wall DIY paint project, but be sure to plan out your color palette first so that you can tie everything together. 

09 It's Time for a Makeover! 

Most two-story homes have a small bathroom downstairs that was designed for convenience. Though this bathroom may not be used exclusively by guests, there is no reason not to express your dramatic side by creating a stunning powder room.

The fun of decorating this tiny bathroom is that it is the one room in your home that doesn't have to "look bigger." You can choose whatever paint color you like as long as you have the right lighting. Powder rooms are where you can express your style without a thought to the rest of the house. Choose a favorite color, replace a boring mirror with a pretty framed one, and add decorative accents for a simple bathroom makeover.

10 Mix and Match 

Throw pillows are the quickest and easiest way to add a pop of color or pattern to any room. More than an afterthought, throw pillows are the finishing touch when you decorate a room. If you want to totally customize your space, try the throw pillow stencil designs from paintapillow.com. With their unique system, choice of modern and romantic designs, and fabric paint color selection, you can create a completely customized style at home.

Thanks for reading! If you liked this post and want some more of the good stuff be sure to subscribe to our Max Strip Blog today.

Top 5 Tough Spring Cleaning Tasks

Spring is here and we're all feeling the itch to wipe away the winter dust so to speak. But we all have those tougher clean-up tasks we've been putting on hold. Here are some of the top tough cleaning tasks with some tips to help get the job done this Spring.

1 Oven Cleaning

Oven cleaning falls into the out of sight out of mind category sometimes. Keep in mind a dirty oven can transfer unpleasant odors and flavors to your food so not the best task to put off. If you have a self-cleaning oven, it is perfectly acceptable to use it if the oven is only slightly dirty. After around two hours, you are left with white ash in the bottom of the oven that you must clean away once the oven unlocks and is cool.

If your oven is very dirty with baked-on food, the self-cleaning feature will not work well. Too much grease and food residue can smoke and even catch fire. You should never leave home with the self-cleaning function engaged. The best way to clean an oven for you will depend on the kind of ingredients you'd like to use, and how dirty your oven is to start. Commercial oven cleaners can be quite harsh. Here is our recommendation for a safe removal option: Max Strip All Purpose Remover.

2 Re-Paint the Front Door

If you were to ask any paint manufacturer, "is painting best done when the weather is mild outside, typically above 10°C and not too humid?" They would say "YES!" If your front door has seen better days, it might be a good time to give it a fresh coat of paint. For best results, remove the door from the hinges and remove all of its hardware. Give it a good cleaning to allow the paint to adhere properly, and scrape off any buildups of paint or areas where the old paint is chipping off. For multiple thick/damaged paint layers, try a DIY-friendly paint stripper to give your door a long-lasting paint job. 

Please note that traditional paint strippers can be very toxic and require special protective equipment. Our recommendation is Max Strip Paint & Varnish Stripper. If your home was built before 1979, check the paint for lead before you scrape or sand. For more information, go to epa-usa/lead paint

3 Tune-Up Outdoor Gas Grills

No matter what your recipe is, the best burgers are cooked on a clean, well-maintained grill. Before cookout season kicks off, give your grill a once-over. Look for food drippings and grease buildup on the exterior grill. Scrub these spots clean with warm soapy water to avoid attracting pests. Clean the grates and interior thoroughly to remove any drippings and grease. A shop vacuum can work great to remove burnt food from the bottom interior of the BBQ. For very dirty BBQ grates, soak them in Max Strip All Purpose Remover before scrubbing with warm water. Finally, clean the drip pan thoroughly with warm, soapy water. 

4 Community Graffiti Removal 

You've been looking at the same ugly graffiti every day in your community on your commute to work and it's finally warm enough to do something about it. Leaving graffiti can encourage more property damage. Removing it quickly it can discourage repeat offenders. Getting a few neighbors together for a walk around the neighborhood to clean up graffiti can go a long way. Improve curb/community appeal even increase property values. Some graffiti removers can be very smelly and even cause mild skin burns when used without protective gloves. Max Strip Graffiti Remover offers a safer option for graffiti removal and cleans-up with just water!

5 Repair & Treat Wood Furniture

Is your outdoor wood furniture starting to splinter, fade, or peeling paint? Then it’s time to get those repairs in before the summertime fun begins! If it is not properly treated for water damage prevention, the project will just be more work later. For damaged water sealants or peeling paint, always strip off the damaged coating. This will ensure you are getting the proper coating adhesion to protect your wood from water, weather, pests, and wood rot. It also protects you and your family from splinters ouch! For safe DIY furniture refinishing, we recommend Max Strip Paint & Varnish Stripper.

As the weather starts to warm up, we get more and more distracted with Summer fun! Take this perfect opportunity to clean up winter messes and the tough projects you've been putting off. Save Summer for fun in the sun and use this time to get these Spring clean up projects done before it’s too hot!

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Have You Heard About Max Strip Yet? : The Safer Stripping Option

If you haven't heard about the most effectively advanced environmentally-friendly coating removal technologies provided by Max Strip®, here's the quick rundown.  

Company Mission

Max Strip’s mission is to provide safe alternatives to hazardous solvents used for stripping, cleaning, and surface preparation using the most advanced, patented, water-based technology. We are also interested in educating consumers, trade and industry about hazardous solvents, and how to use safer, effective alternatives.

Company Background

Max Strip® has been involved in the industrial paint stripping business since 1972. Up until 1998, the main paint strippers and cleaners on the market were extremely toxic, carcinogenic, and hazardous for consumer health. This made Do-It-Yourself and even Professional projects difficult to do without exposing yourself to harmful fumes and toxins. In 1998, Eco Solutions, our UK parent company which had prior to this time used common hazardous stripping chemicals developed a safe alternative formula for industrial paint stripping. Max Strip® has brought this innovative formula to North America and will continue to provide safe and effective alternatives to hazardous stripping chemicals and meet the needs of North Americans everywhere.

Removal Products 

Max Strip's product line was developed to meet all our customer's removal needs with effective environmentally-friendly options. Here are Max Strip's most popular removal products. For the full product line list and where to buy links visit MAXstripProducts

Max Strip® All Purpose Remover

The All-In-One tough remover you need for cleaning paint mess, glue & tape residues, stickers, baked on grease, garage grease, graffiti, decals, gum, tree sap, and much more! Max Strip® has developed an effective easy to use remover that cleans up with just water, is gentle on skin, and has no harsh fumes.

Max Strip® Paint & Varnish Stripper

The ultimate safe paint stripper developed with water-based removal technology. Strip all kinds of paint, varnish, lacquer, water and grout sealant, floor wax, and much more effectively from various surfaces. Max Strip's Paint & Varnish Stripper easy to use removal formula clings to vertical surfaces and cleans up with just water. This low VOC formula is gentle on skin, and has no harsh fumes.

Max Strip® Popcorn Ceiling Remover

Painted popcorn ceiling texture removal is now DIY-friendly with our dust free removal formula. Max Strip® Popcorn Ceiling Remover is specifically designed to remove painted drywall textures made with drywall mud. This includes most drywall textures like popcorn, swirl, stomp, orange peel, acoustic ceilings, etc. This removal formula is tinted blue and clings 100% to surfaces for easy application. Max Strip® cleans up with just water, is gentle on skin, and has no harsh fumes.

Max Strip® Graffiti Remover

Finally, a graffiti removal option that is safe to use in public spaces! Remove most types of spray paint, permanent markers & ink, decals & stickers, crayons, gum and just tough sticky stuff! Our advanced patented formula can be used effectively on most surfaces. Get the dirty removal jobs done safely. Max Strip® Graffiti Remover is an easy-to-use convenient no-drip spray gel with a plant safe formula that cleans up with just water. Gentle on skin with no harsh fumes!

Max Strip® Adhesive & Glue Remover

Need a glue remover that is effective AND safe to use? Max Strip® Adhesive & Glue Remover gets the tough removal jobs done and unlike other glue removers has a low VOC skin-safe formula that cleans up with just water! Remove most types of contractor grade adhesive & glue residues, decals & stickers, tape residues, liquid nail, tree sap, gum, and much more.

The Truly Safer Removal Option

Max Strip’s advanced water-based technology surpasses our competition with professional performance and low environmental impact. Our removal formulas are water-soluble and biodegradable. We are committed to sourcing components from local suppliers

Max Strip® delivers leading world-patented technology designed to target the molecular bond between the coating and the surface. This process allows Max Strip® to effectively remove most coatings from surfaces with no chemical reaction causing harmful fumes to be released from the coating during the removal process. Our easy-to-use, convenient no-drip gel tackles even the toughest stripping tasks. Unlike traditional strippers, Max Strip® is the safer option for indoor and outdoor use around children, pets and plants!

THANK YOU FOR READING!

Learn more about Max Strip® and where to buy here MAXstrip.com. If you would like to read more blog posts like this be sure to subscribe to our blog at MAXstripBlog.