Refinishing Furniture

Before you haul your dated dresser or beat-up dining room chairs to the curb, consider this: In as little as a couple of hours you can give your sturdy furnishings a facelift. Refinishing furniture is more economical than purchasing new items-besides, why toss out a well-built piece of furniture just because it's in need of an update?

If you're bringing an old chair or end table that's in good shape in from the garage, cleaning the surface with mineral spirits or oil soap may be all that's needed to freshen it up. You can revive unpainted wood furniture with furniture polish; to tackle nicks, use grain filler sticks that match the color of the wood.

When minor touchups won't do or you want to change the appearance of an item, it may be time to strip and refinish or paint the furnishing. Here are some pointers for each stage of the refinishing process.

Prepare for stripping.

Cover the floor with cloth and newspapers to ensure strippers and stains won't damage the surface. Remove any knobs, hardware, or cushions from the item you're refinishing. Fill in any deep scratches or dings.

Strip the old finish.

The fastest way to remove an old finish is to use a chemical stripper, although furniture refinishers are a gentler option. Another possibility for completely removing a furniture finish is to combine equal parts paint thinner and lacquer thinner.

If you opt for a chemical remover, select one that's not too harsh or you'll cause more problems than good. Look for chemical strippers labeled "no cleanup" or "will wash away with water" to minimize messes. Thick strippers such as gel or paste are best for refinishing vertical surfaces; liquid strippers only work for horizontal refinishing.

Make sure to wear safety gloves and eye protection, and only apply strippers in a room with proper ventilation. An old paintbrush works best for applying strippers or refinishers.

Leave chemical strippers on for as long as the manufacturer directions recommend. When the stripper or refinisher is dry, remove as much of it as possible with a putty knife or scraper with round edges (be careful not to gouge the wood!). Steel wool is handy for taking care of hard-to-remove patches, although in some cases you may have to apply another layer of stripper to completely clean leftover spots.

Clean and sand.

Once all of the stripper or refinisher has been removed, clean the furniture and allow it to dry. Sand the wood gently with fine sandpaper so it's smooth to the touch.

Apply stain.

Wearing protective gloves, use a brush or a rag to stain the furnishing. Apply the first layer with a light hand; you can always add more coats if necessary.

If your furnishings have intricate details, you may wish to dip the object in a liquid stain bath instead. This isn't a DIY project, but it ensures great coverage and a beautiful finish so it may be worth the cost. Find a local furniture refinishing pro who can dip furniture for you.

Or forgo the stain altogether and paint instead.

Top with a finish.

To protect your hard work and keep your furniture looking attractive, apply an oil or polyurethane finish or varnish after the stain dries. Once the finish dries, your like-new furnishing is ready to use!