Re-finishing Old Furniture

What You'll Need

* Plastic gloves
* Furniture stripper
* Safety glasses
* Drop cloth
* Putty knife
* Steel wool
* Palm sander
* Sandpaper
* Rag
* Wood stain
* Clear polymer
* Small roller
* New hardware (optional)


Instructions

First, remove the old finish. There are many kinds of strippers available, ask a professional at your hardware store which ones is the right kind for the finish you wish to remove.

Place the piece on a drop cloth to protect your floor from spills. Always wear safety glasses and plastic gloves as strippers contain harsh chemicals. Pour a big dollop of stripper onto the surface of the piece. Spread the solution with an old paintbrush, coating the surface evenly. Focus on one section at a time, as the stripper has a limited active time. Let it sit until the paint becomes soft and bubbles up.

Scrape the old paint off with a putty knife, going in the direction of the grain. Depending on how old your finish is you might have to repeat this process. After you've scraped off most of the finish, dip some steel wool in stripper and remove remaining traces of the old finish. This technique works especially well on corners and grooves and hard to reach areas.

Once the finish is removed, let the wood dry thoroughly and then sand it down with a medium-to-fine grit sandpaper. You can use a palm sander or hand sand.

Now you are ready to paint your piece. Use a soft old rag to apply stain, rubbing it into the wood evenly. To protect your new finish you might want to add a clear coat of polymer. This will also add some shine. Roll it on with a small paint roller, using long, even strokes.

Installing new hardware is the perfect finishing touch. Most knobs are easily installed with a screwdriver. The screws are generally sold with the hardware.

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