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 Before you start a project, do your homework and
decide for certain what you would like as the final outcome.
Turning an old dresser into a painted piece for a kid’s room can be
fun. Repurposing a straight back chair into a towel rack for the
bathroom can add interest in the room, and will impress your family
and friends with how creative you are!
Before you begin a project, there are a few things to consider.
Be aware of the value of the piece you are thinking about
refinishing. For example, while it is your furniture to do with as
you wish, you could greatly deplete the value of your great
grandmothers Hoosier Cabinet if you strip it and paint it pink!
Be cautious of the space you have available for working. If you plan
to use a paint stripping product, fumes can be a big issue. Make
sure you are working in an area that is well ventilated, and where
you won’t have lingering fumes carrying throughout the house to
family members and pets.
Don’t skip steps in the process. If you are using a stripping
product, be sure that you remove all of the goo and allow the piece
time to dry before moving on to the next step. If you are using
sandpaper to smooth the surfaces, be sure to clean afterward with a
tack cloth.
Many polyurethane finishes adhere better, look nicer, and last
longer when you follow the instructions to apply, dry, lightly sand,
then move on to the next or final coat.
Here are two videos that are really great tutorials on how to strip
furniture using a stripping product. This
one talks about the materials you need in order to be successful.
Stripping
chest of drawers part one This one
talks about the actual “how to.”
Furniture
stripping tutorial | How to strip wood furniture
Once the piece is stripped of its old finish, how do
you go about giving the piece a new look? You have options, stain
and then ‘layer finish’ with oil, or paint. Here are some tips to
help you decide.
What kind of
finish should you use? | Wood finishing basics
If you choose to stain and layer finish, the
following video could be helpful:
How to finish
wood in three easy steps | Just ask Bruce
This video will give you tips on an oil finish.
How to apply
pure tung oil to wood (the right way)
Looking for tips on painting furniture? Here ya go!
How to paint
furniture Note, on this video the
piece is not stripped. The key to success is to sand the finish and
use a primer so the paint will last. After all, there is no need in
doing all this if the paint is going to chip off!
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 On the other hand, maybe you want the piece to
look “chippy.” Having a chipped paint look on vintage pieces can add
a lot of interest and eye appeal, and you can do that on purpose.
Watch the following video on using “milk paint.”
How to | Get a
chippy finish with milk paint If
chippy isn’t your style but you still don’t want a finish that is
shiny or even semi-gloss, you may want to consider using a ‘chalk
paint.’ Check out this ‘how to’ on getting an ultra-smooth finish
with chalk-type paint.
How to paint
furniture: Getting an ultra smooth finish with chalk-type paints
Of course you can also paint with regular paint. In
this video, the paint is Sherwin Williams Cashmere. The film shows
not only the painting, but how to finish a painted project without
brush strokes, something that most of the time we don’t want to see
is where our brush has been!
How to
eliminate brush strokes on painted furniture
Finally, it was mentioned earlier that one can turn a
straight back chair into a towel rack for the bathroom. There are
lots of old chairs hanging around. You can find them in resale and
thrift shops and garage sales. A few dollars invested in the chair,
a few in the paint and supplies, and you can have something great.
Check out this pictorial video of fun things to do with old chairs!
Recycled old
chair projects – DIY ideas The
products used in these videos can be found locally at retailers such
as Sherwin Williams and Ace Hardware in Lincoln.
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