How To Refinish Antique Furniture

Learning how to refinish antique furniture is something that is easiest if you have a basic understanding of building and staining furniture. During the process, you will need to use certain materials carefully, so as not to damage the furniture that you are actually making better. When old finish begins to look dull, it must be removed, and new varnish may be applied. Following is some advice on how to refinish antique furniture.

How to Refinish Antique Furniture: Materials

• New varnish, approximately same color as the old
• Sandpaper, 225, 150, 80 grit
• Wide brush
• Fine brush

How to Refinish Antique Furniture

1. Buy everything that you will need to complete the project. All of these materials should be available at any home improvement or construction supply store.
2. Next, remove the old fishing. Start with course grit sandpaper (80), and gently rub the wood, going with the grain. This way, even if you sand too deep, the wood of the antique furniture will not be damaged.
3. Once most of the old finish is removed, switch to a slightly finer (150 grit) sandpaper, and continue sanding off all of the previous finish. Once most of this has been removed, take the finest (225 grit) sandpaper and finely, very gently, go with the grain of the wood, until all of the old varnish is completely removed.
4. Then, with the wide brush, after blowing off the leftover sawdust flakes, apply new varnish to the wider parts of the furniture. Then, use the finer brush to coat the narrower, harder to reach places, such as creases and leg connections, with the new finish.
5. Once the first coat has been applied, gently, with the 225 grit paper, sand the furniture all over. This will remove any superficial lumps or pieces of wood that were not covered adequately with this first finish. Be very gentle, so as not to actually remove all of the new varnish.
6. Apply several coats, allowing time between for each one to dry thoroughly. Once at least five thin coats of new finish (the sanding was only for after the first coat) have been painted on, let it dry, and put the furniture on display!

Learning how to refinish antique furniture requires you to be careful, so as not to damage the wood when removing the old finish. Take your time, and when you are done, marvelous, freshly finished furniture will result, spicing up your home.