How To Refinish Old Wood Furniture
Learn how to effectively and efficiently refinish old wood furniture to give your tired pieces a much-needed facelift.
If you want to switch up your home interior but your budget is limited, one of the easiest ways to refresh your old and tired wood furniture is to give it a new finish. This DIY process is relatively easy to complete at home, with only a handful of equipment and materials needed.
Whether you are a seasoned DIY-er or just starting your DIY woodworking journey, refinishing old wood furniture may require time and patience, but the final product is a reward worth waiting for.
Clean Furniture
Before you can begin stripping your wood to apply a new wood finish, you need to ensure your furniture is properly clean. Using warm water with just a few drops of dish soap in a clean bucket, wipe down the entire piece, removing any dust, dirt, or mildew that may be present.
Once you have removed all impurities, replace the dirty water with fresh and cool rinse water. Using a clean sponge, wipe down the entire piece to remove any trace of soapy water. Avoid wetting the furniture more than needed, as this will extend the drying time before you begin. The wood must be thoroughly dried before you can continue, which typically takes one to two days, depending on the weather..
Strip the Wood
Wood furniture typically has many awkward angles, edges, and grooves that a regular sander simply can’t reach. To simplify the stripping process, it is worthwhile to use a liquid stripper instead.
Because many of the solvents you will use during the process are potent chemical compounds, you must utilize proper protection tools to maintain your health and safety. These include waterproof safety gloves, eye protection goggles, and a respirator to protect your lungs from inhaling toxic fumes.
Once you are kitted out, you can brush the stripper all over the wood in a thick layer or per the manufacturer's instructions. After 1-2 hours (or longer, depending on the brand you are using), the paint will begin to bubble, indicating it is ready to be scraped off.
Remove Old Finish
Gear up with your protection equipment once more and use a putty knife to scrape away the wet and bubbling paint. Depending on the shape of the furniture, it is more beneficial to use a range of different tools to tackle all areas.
This can include old screwdrivers, paint lid openers, scrapers, and more. Steel wool is particularly useful for hard-to-reach areas. However, be sure not to rub too hard, as it will create divots.
Repair as Needed
Once your furniture has dried adequately after removing the old finish, you will be able to see any damage that may need to be repaired before you start the sanding process. Any loose sections can be securely reattached using stronghold wood glue before being clamped together to keep everything in place while drying.
Missing wood sections can be strengthened or replaced using epoxy resin wood filler or another filler product you trust based on your desired finish. Finally, use this step to fill in any uneven wood grain using a grain filler to guarantee every surface is even and smooth.
Sand for a Smooth Result
Before applying your desired stain, it is vital to sand down the entire piece to bare wood to guarantee you are working with a smooth and even surface. Start with lower gauge grits and slowly increase the grit range as needed. This will help you avoid sanding away more wood than you may want.
To get the job done as effectively and efficiently as possible, use an oscillating electric sander on as many of the larger, flat sections as you can. Pay special attention when working close to curved edges, as you could create unwanted flat spots.
Switch to a foam sanding block or sandpaper for small, tight areas and grooves to ensure no spot is missed.
Condition & Stain
Before applying your stain, it is important to begin the process with a pre-stain conditioner. This clear, penetrating liquid is an effective tool for ensuring your stain applies in an even and smooth layer, allowing you to avoid blotchy patches or areas where the stain might apply thicker or thinner than the rest of the surface.
Wearing the necessary personal protection items, you can begin to apply the stain using a brush or rag, depending on the size and shape of the furniture piece. Opt for multiple thin layers of stain compared to one or two thick layers, as this will give you more control when choosing the perfect color finish.
Add Protection
Don’t let your hard work go to waste by failing to apply two to three layers of water—or oil-based polyurethane coating. This will protect the furniture from environmental conditions and the bumps and knocks of everyday life.
Alternatively, you can use a penetrating oil, like tung oil or Danish oil. It is important to note that oil is best suited for low-impact wood furniture pieces where surface protection is not a high priority due to minimal contact.
