Refinishing furniture brings out the best in the piece.
Before refinishing old furniture, it is important to find out the age and history of the piece because in some instances the furniture may have greater value when left in its current state, even if it does not look that good. According to an article in Professional Refinishing Magazine, Peter Cook, then producer of Antiques Roadshow, offered to clear up misconceptions of when to refinish furniture by saying, "Well-conceived and well-executed refinishing and restoration usually enhances the value of just about any piece of old furniture." Refinishing furniture that you bought for a song at a yard sale, or that someone gave you can be a fun and rewarding project.
Stripping
Most furniture strippers you buy have methylene chloride as the primary ingredient. In poorly ventilated spaces this chemical has had negative effects on the heart rate, kidneys, liver and spleen of humans. Chemically sensitive people may want to try the N-methyl pyrrolidone alternatives when working in enclosed spaces. You may have to use multiple coats of stripper to remove layers of old finish.
A stripper that can be sprayed is handy for stripping carved areas or spindles since it will get into those surfaces that are hard to scrape. A great way to keep the stripper from running and getting on your arms is to wear gauntlet gloves that are turned down at the tops to catch the excess stripper. Be sure to wear eye protection when using these chemicals. For those thin, grooved areas in the furniture, try using sanding cord. Sanding cord is a string-like material coated with sandpaper that makes it a breeze to get into small grooved areas.
Surface Preparation
Preparation of the wood's surface is the most important step in refinishing furniture. After stripping, allow at least 24 hours for the furniture to completely dry. Then double-check closely to make sure all the old finish has been completely removed. Use a paint remover wash, denatured alcohol or lacquer thinner, and 0000 steel wool to prepare the surface and remove any residual stripper. Avoid using water, since it will raise the grain of the wood. When the furniture has dried from the cleaning, put on a pair of cotton gardening gloves and run your hands over the surface carefully. If the gloves pick up any snags, then some additional sanding is necessary.
Sanding
Avoid sanding to preserve the patina. However, if after the cotton glove test some sanding is needed, be sure to always sand in the direction of the grain, even when using fine sand paper. Uneven sanding produces uneven staining results because stain is absorbed more into the sanded areas. Use a tack cloth to remove dust that may be stuck in the grain of the wood and in hard-to-reach surfaces such as carved areas.
Tags: carved areas, grain wood, grooved areas, Refinishing furniture, since will, when using