How To Refinish Wood Furniture

When you have an old piece of furniture that needs attention, learn about how to refinish wood furniture to bring it back to life. Antique tables, chairs, beds and other pieces, as well as newer wood furniture, is sometimes damaged, painted or neglected and needs to be refinished. To furnish your home with one-of-a-kind pieces, learn to refinish wood furniture.

To refinish wood furniture, you will need:

• Wood furniture
• Newspapers or tarp
• Orange cleaner
• Rubber gloves
• Wood stripper
• Wire brush
• Putty knife
• Rags
• Sandpaper

1. Clean the wood furniture. Begin by placing the furniture on layers of newspaper or a tarp. Then begin wiping down the table, chair or other piece of wood furniture to remove dust, cobwebs and other debris. If needed, use an orange cleaner to remove oil and grime.
2. Apply chemical wood stripper. Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands. Use a chemical wood stripper to remove paint or varnish on the wood furniture. Be sure to apply the varnish in the grooves and areas not easily seen to remove all of the old finish.
3. Let the stripper work. Allow the chemical wood stripper work by letting it sit for the maximum amount of time recommended on the container.
4. Remove the wood stripper. Remove the chemicals from the wood furniture by scrapping it gently with a putty knife or rag. For small piece, use a wire brush.
5. Sand the wood furniture. Use heavy grit sandpaper and progress downward to fine sandpaper to remove more of the old finish until the wood furniture is down to the bare wood.

Tips:

• Be sure to work in a well-ventilated area of your house or outside when you refinish wood furniture.
• Keep chemicals out of reach of children and animals.