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
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