Hobbies And Interests
Refinishing Furniture
Many people think refinishing furniture means stripping off the original finish. Don't, however, apply damaging and toxic furniture stripper before giving the piece a simple cleaning with mineral spirits and/or a gentle soap and water. If an old piece has a few layers of varnish and stain, try cleaning before stripping.
Wooden furniture accumulates dirt over the years that sets inside the lines and small cracks. Sometimes, using a gentle dish soap and clean rag eliminates this grime. Dampen the rag, but avoid soaking the wood with water.
Mineral spirits are another alternative, especially when dirt is difficult to remove. Steel wool with mineral spirits, though sometimes suggested, may damage the surface. A clean rag dampened with mineral spirits cleans old wood effectively without scratching the furniture. A good cleaning gives an old piece of furniture a fresh start
Painted furniture requires more effort. Furniture stripper removes old paint finishes from wood. Stripper, however, contains harsh chemicals. Never use a stripper in a closed area without good ventilation. Stripping furniture is best done outside with protective gloves and goggles. Strippers vary, but most require a metal or plastic scraper that takes the old finish off the wood. After the piece is stripped, sand the furniture and recoat the wood with a new stain and protective finish.
Antiquing Furniture
Antiquing furniture requires a lengthy time commitment, but the process sounds more complicated than it is. Even a new piece of inexpensive furniture takes on an expensive, customized look when antiqued correctly. Don't rush the antiquing process, especially on the first try.
A mechanical sanding tool makes antiquing furniture much easier. With many layers of finish, plan on hours of sanding old furniture. Make certain the surface of the wood is smooth before moving on to the next step. Use a furniture stripper for furniture with more than three layers of paint and varnish.
Once the furniture is stripped or sanded to the bare wood, apply a stain. Darker stains work best for antiquing. Apply the stain evenly and wipe off the excess according to the manufacturer's directions.
When the stain has dried completely, cover the furniture in a layer of paint. Again, a darker color creates a better antique effect as a bottom layer. Allow the paint to dry and sand the piece until smooth.
Apply another contrasting color of paint to the furniture. The layer should cover the first layer of paint and stain completely. Allow this paint layer to dry overnight. A solid eight to 10 hours gives all three layers a chance to dry thoroughly. Sand the furniture, gently, all over, until the piece is smooth.
Take the mechanical sander and apply it randomly to different areas of the furniture. Consider which areas receive the most use. An antique chair, for instance, shows the most wear on the seat. Sand these most-used areas down to the original stained layer. Continue sanding until the furniture shows wear in different spots. Wipe off any dust with a damp cloth.
Finish the furniture by applying a few layers of a polyurethane coating. If the furniture will receive a lot of use, consider two or three layers of polyurethane. Sand the furniture lightly, until smooth, and enjoy your hard work.