Buying brand new furniture is not only
expensive, but you're also less likely to get a quality item that's
built to last. Whether you're refurbishing an heirloom chock full of
sentimental value, sprucing up a flea market find or simply repairing an
old piece of furniture, refinishing furniture is a great way to keep
money in your pocket and reduce waste. Keep reading for 7 great tips and
steps that will teach you how to refinish furniture to save money.
1. Make Sure the Furniture is Structurally
Sound.
Remember, no matter how times you sand
and refinish a poorly-built piece of furniture, it's still going to be
poorly built. Before you refinish any item, make sure it's structurally
sound.
Make any structural repairs like
re-gluing the wood joints or tightening any loose screws before you
start the refinishing process.
2. Remove the Old Finish.
Probably the messiest and most
difficult part of refinishing furniture is removing the old finish. The
easiest way to remove old varnish and paint is by using chemical
strippers and sanding. When using a chemical stripper, always do it
outside to minimize the inhalation of fumes and wear protective safety
gear. Also, you'll need to follow up any chemical stripping with a final
sanding. First, go over the piece with 120 grit sandpaper and finally a
fine 220 grit sandpaper.
3. Fill in the Grain.
Some woods don't require you to fill in
the grain, but woods like mahogany and oak have a wider grain structure
that should be filled in before refinishing furniture.
You can get grain filler in most wood
shades and colors, and it can be applied before or after you stain.
4. Apply Sanding Sealant.
Sanding sealer goes on the wood not
after you sand, but before you sand. While it's not a requirement, it
can make the wood absorb the stain in a more even pattern and therefore
prevent over staining.
5. Stain the Wood.
If you're refinishing a wood piece,
you're most likely going to be using stain to refinish your furniture.
There are four different stains you can use: oil-based stains,
water-based stains, gel stains and one-step stain finishes.
When applying a stain, always follow
the manufacturers' instructions.
6. Varnish the Wood.
Seal in all your hard work and keep
your wood safe by applying a few coats of polyurethane or lacquer
finish.
7. Put on New Hardware.
Finally, put the finishing touches on
your furniture piece by updating it with new drawer pulls or hardware
fixtures to give it a fresh and new look.
