furniture repair

Before you take your outdated dresser or beat-up dining room chairs to the curb, consider this: in as little as a couple of hours you can give your sturdy furniture a facelift. Restoring furniture is cheaper than buying new items; Besides, why throw away a well-constructed piece of furniture just because it needs an update?

If you’re bringing an old chair or side table that’s in good shape from the garage, cleaning the surface with mineral spirits or oil soap may be all you need to freshen it up. You can revive unpainted wood furniture with furniture wax; To address the indentations, use grain filler bars that match the color of the wood.

When minor touch-ups aren’t enough or you want to change the look of an item, it may be time to strip and restore or paint your furniture. Here are some tips for each stage of the restoration process.

Prepare to strip.

Cover the floor with cloth and newspaper to ensure that removers and stains do not damage the surface. Remove any knobs, hardware, or cushions from the item you are refinishing. Fill in deep scratches or dents.

Remove the old finish.

The fastest way to remove an old finish is to use a chemical stripper, although furniture refinishers are a gentler option. Another possibility to completely remove the finish from a piece of furniture is to mix equal parts paint thinner and lacquer thinner.

If you opt for a chemical remover, select one that is not too strong or it will cause more trouble than good. Look for chemical strippers labeled “no clean” or “will wash away with water” to minimize masses. Thick strippers, such as gel or paste, are best for restoring vertical surfaces; liquid strippers only work for horizontal refinishing.

Be sure to wear safety gloves and eye protection, and only apply strippers in a room with adequate ventilation. An old paintbrush works best for applying strippers or restorers.

Leave chemical strippers on for the time recommended by the manufacturer’s instructions. When the stripper or restorer is dry, remove as much of it as possible with a putty knife or round-edged scraper (be careful not to gouge the wood!). Steel wool is useful for taking care of hard-to-remove patches, although in some cases you may need to apply another coat of stripper to completely clean the remains.

Clean and sand.

Once all of the stripper or refinisher has been removed, wipe down the furniture and allow it to dry. Sand the wood lightly with fine sandpaper so that it is smooth to the touch.

Apply dye.

Wearing protective gloves, use a brush or rag to stain the furniture. Apply first coat with a light coat; you can always add more layers if needed.

If your furniture has intricate details, you may want to submerge the object in a bath of liquid dye. This is not a DIY project, but it ensures great coverage and a beautiful finish, so it may be worth the cost. Find a local furniture refinishing professional who can dip furniture for you.

Or forego the stain altogether and paint instead.

Cover with a finish.

To protect your hard work and maintain your furniture’s attractive appearance, apply an oil or polyurethane finish or varnish after the stain dries. Once the finish dries, your like-new furniture is ready to use!