::refinish

This is in response to Brandi. I was going to just comment back on your blog, but it can get a little detailed so I thought I'd put this out there for anyone interested on how to refinish a piece of furniture.

So, Brandi found a great desk at Goodwill:



It's solid wood so it can easily be changed based on personal taste. I've tackled quite a few pieces myself, so I thought I'd share some tips. If you're interested in refinishing a piece of furniture and still have questions, feel free to leave a comment and I'll try and answer your questions.

I'd like to note that this is an EASY project to take on and very inexpensive. The longest thing you'll have to do with this is wait for your paint/finish to dry.

Step 1: Remove all the hardware from the drawers. And take out the drawers so you can work on them separately.

Step 2: Sand down the furniture. If you have an electric sander, I would recommend using this, but it is not necessary. You can always use some elbow grease and just sheets of sandpaper to sand it down yourself. [This desk is fairly square at all angles. When you're dealing with spindle legs or lots of curves, you'll definitely want to just use a sheet and sand it down by hand so you can get into those little nooks.] Now, the grit on the sandpaper you use will depend on your project. The higher the grit, the finer the sandpaper. For this desk, it doesn't look to have too many scratches on it. I would recommend using an 80 grit piece for this. I think we typically go through a couple pieces of sandpaper per piece of furniture, so make sure to get a couple.

Another option is to use liquid sandpaper. Now, I've heard mix reactions about using it on wood. So you might want to check with your local retailer about this. It's mostly used to remove glossy paint, but I do believe it will take the varnish off of wood as well. You will not want to use this if you're looking to re-stain and piece of furniture. Use this only if you're planning on painting it.

Step 3: Wipe the desk down with a partially damp cloth. Remove all the dust and grit leftover from the sanding.

-------And here's where we split-------


Step 4.1: If you want to re-stain the desk another color, pick out your stain. To apply it, dab the stain onto a cloth and rub it into the wood going along with the grain. You can also just use a paint brush. (Note: stain is an oil based product and cannot be washed out with water. You'll have to use mineral spirits to clean the brush. I always just buy cheap brushes to use so I can throw it away when I'm done).

I've put on stain both ways. I think I prefer the look better when you apply with a cloth...but it's just taste. Let the stain dry for a good 8 hours before applying a second coat. You can apply as many coats as you like. Each coat will darken the wood.

Step 4.2: Prime it (if you're planning on painting it). I just use whatever primer I have laying around. Just pick up whatever primer you want. It's all the same ;) Let this dry overnight.

Paint it! For indoor furniture, there's not really a "rule of thumb" for what paint to use. I've worked with all types of paint and they've all come out just fine. Let this dry overnight. You can put on as many coats as you like, but really 2 should do the trick. I don't think I've ever gotten away with just one :) Let this second coat dry overnight as well.

Step 5: Lastly, you'll want to cover the furniture with a coat of polyurethane. I have not done this, and believe me...it makes a difference. This will protect your furniture and give it a little bit of shine. This, like stain, is an oil based product and the brush cannot be cleaned with water. Let that dry overnight.

There you have it. 5 easy steps for personalizing your furniture. If you want to quick it up a notch, switch out the hardware as well. You can find hardware at any home improvement store, Target, Walmart, Anthrolopologie, etc.



This desk reminds me alot of this desk. (Just to give you a little inspiration ;) )



What about you guys? Have you had any successes/failures with refinishing your furniture? Any tips you'd like to share?