Best Way To Strip And Refinish Furniture

Failing to Strip Completely When you have determined that you do need to strip a piece always remove all the old finish or paint thoroughly.

Best way to strip and refinish furniture. You can also use a tarp plastic drop cloth or old newspapers. Once I strip everything off raw wood Ill go straight for an oil Andrew says. Two to three coats of varnish will offer the piece significant lasting quality.

Using a block to hold the paper will make this process easier and more effective. Put on a thick layer of stripper with one stroke. Furniture oils sink in and protect wood beyond the.

Always use rubber gloves and a mask when using stripper. Wait 10-15 minutes before scraping it off with a putty knife. Putty knife plastic one best to it doesnt make marks directions.

Varnishes are best applied using a china bristle brush. Leaving spots will yield an uneven surface when you finally start finishing it. Many pieces of furniture have solid carvings or intricate detail work in the wood.

When you are happy that it is sanded evenly move up to a 180 grit again sanding with the grain. Disposing of the old finish Once the piece is completely stripped youll have to dispose of the old finish. Kevin recommends liquid Ivory dish soap mixed with water.

A thorough cleaning is an important first step in any furniture refinishing renewal project. Or for shellac or lacquer finishes I like using the solvent for the finish denatured alcohol for shellac and lacquer thinner for lacquer. This example shows how to refinish a cedar chest but the technique is the same for any wooden furniture.