How to Refinish Wood Furniture

How to Refinish Wood Furniture

1. Clean Furniture

   • With warm water and about three drops of dish soap in a clean bucket, wipe down dusty, dirty, or mildewy furniture with a sponge.
   • Change out the water for clean, cool rinse water. Use another sponge and wipe down the furniture with the rinse water.
   • Let the furniture dry for a day or two until the wood is thoroughly dry.

2. Apply Stripper

   Because wood furniture usually does not have many flat surfaces that are easy to strip with a sander, use a liquid to strip paint from wood.

   • Wearing gloves, eye protection, and breathing protection, brush on the paint stripper in a thick coat or as recommended by the instructions.
   • After an hour or two, the paint should start to bubble up. This means that it is ready for scraping.
   • If you are using citrus-based paint strippers, you may need to wait for up to 24 hours for this less-potent (but environmentally friendly) stripper to take action.
   • In some cases, wrapping the areas where the stripper has been applied with plastic may expedite the stripper.

3. Remove Existing Finish

   • Once again wearing gloves, eye protection, and breathing protection, scrape away the wet paint with the putty knife.
   • You may want to use improvised devices of different sizes to work into all of the areas: old screwdrivers, 5-in-1 tools, paint lid openers, and more. Steel wool is especially valuable for getting into small spaces.
   • Be careful not to rub too hard, as this will gouge the surface.

4. Repair Furniture (Optional)

   • Wait a day or two for the furniture to thoroughly dry. With the wood furniture cleaned and stripped, you can now clearly see any damage to the piece.
   • Loose sections may be able to be tightened by applying wood glue, then clamping them.
   • Missing sections of wood possibly can be strengthened and replaced with epoxy resin wood filler or another wood filler product, depending on your intended finish. Be sure to read product instructions before proceeding.
   • Fill in any uneven wood grain using grain filler to make a smooth, level surface. 

5. Sand Wood

   Sand the furniture down to bare wood. Begin with lower gauge grits and work up to grits in the #220 and #320 range.

   • Use the oscillating electric sander on as many of the flat, broad sections as you can.
   • Use caution and work slowly near curved edges to avoid creating unintended flat spots.
   • Switch to a manual foam sanding block for tight areas and grooves.

   Tip

   If you want to achieve a glass-smooth, pore-free finish on your wood furniture, apply a wood grain filler. With a plastic spreader tool, spread the grain filler to the wood, much like skim-coating a wall. After the filler has dried, gently sand it down with #320 grit sandpaper until it is smooth.

6. Condition and Stain Furniture

   • Begin with a pre-stain conditioner. This clear penetrating liquid prevents the stain from being blotchy in some areas and thin in other areas.
   • Wearing personal protection, apply stain to the wood furniture with a rag or brush.
   • Apply multiple thin layers rather than one or two heavy layers, as this helps you control the coloration.

7. Coat and Protect Furniture

   • Protect your wood furniture by brushing or wiping on coats of water- or oil-based polyurethane coating.
   • Alternatively, you may choose to apply penetrating oil such as tung oil or Danish oil. Oils are best for low-impact wood furniture where surface protection is not as important.

Common Mistakes When Refinishing Wood Furniture

The most common mistakes when refinishing any type of wood furniture are surprisingly easy to prevent. Bypassing steps and incorrectly following directions can potentially cause damage to the furniture or lengthen the refinishing process. Spend some time visualizing the finished project, researching, and paying attention to the process. Here are some common mistakes to avoid.

Not Cleaning the Surface

Before refinishing, clean wood furniture thoroughly. You might find that all a piece needs after cleaning is retouching, not a full refinishing job. Thoroughly clean the surface with a wood cleaner or wax remover to see if you can salvage the existing finish.

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. Leaving spots will yield an uneven surface when you finally start finishing it. Apply enough stripper to keep the surface wet, and never work in direct sunlight as you can dry the wood. Remove the finish completely before sanding to get the surface ready for the new finish.

Not Waiting Long Enough

When you don’t wait long enough for the stripper to work, you will have to scrape the wood to get the old finish off. Check to see if it comes off easily before removing it. Leave the stripper on longer if the old finish doesn't come off easily.

Waiting Too Long

If you spread the stripper and let it sit for longer than required, the paint can become hard again. Plan to complete the stripping in the time required, so you can remove the paint while it is still soft.

Failing to Make Necessary Repairs

Before you begin refinishing and right after stripping, check for any repairs that need to be made to the surface. Do this before sanding and staining. This will assure a better finish.

Not Sanding Properly

Before you apply your stain, the surface should be smooth. Otherwise, it may not accept the finish properly. Proper sanding assures a smooth finish. Use the right grit of sandpaper for the job.

Applying Too Thick a Coat

When you are applying a stain or paint, resist the tendency to put a lot of it on all at once. Too thick a coat will only create an uneven and unattractive finish, and not get the work done sooner. Apply the product, and wait for the first coat to dry before continuing with the next one. You will be able to find the instructions for the proper waiting time on your container.

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