Furniture Refinishing Tips To Achieve Professional Results
Refinishing furniture is a great way to save money and help the environment. Instead of discarding an old piece of furniture that you don't like, consider refinishing it.
Wooden tables, chairs, and bedroom furniture in good physical condition all make excellent candidates for refinishing.
Professional or DIY Furniture Refinishing
If you are busy or don't want to refinish a furniture piece, you should opt to have it done professionally. Furniture refinishing is reasonably priced, and you will receive a professionally upgraded piece back in just a few weeks.
If you like to work on projects around your home or craft with paint, then painting or restaining furniture is something you can easily do yourself. The process isn't quick or straightforward, but if you have the time and desire, this is a great do-it-yourself project.
Tips for Professional-Looking Results
If you decide to refinish yourself, there are many ways to prepare the furniture pieces to make the project easier and ensure professional-looking results.
Test for Lead Paint
Lead paint was banned in the US in 1978. If your furniture was manufactured before this date and you will be sanding or stripping off paint, you must test it for lead. It is not safe to sand or strip lead paint because it can get into your lungs. You can purchase an inexpensive lead paint kit at any hardware store.
Use Chemicals to Your Advantage
Many people shy away from furniture refinishing because they picture weeks of sanding and scraping in preparation for applying a new surface. Thankfully, you can use fantastic stripping products to remove a large percentage of the old surface.
Chemical stripping does not entirely negate the need for sanding, but it will significantly reduce it to a much more reasonable timeframe. If you use a palm sander, the job will be done in less than an hour.
Scrape Parallel to the Wood
Even using a chemical stripper, it is easy to gouge softer woods like pine when scraping off an old finish with a metal tool. If you must scrape, do so at a low angle to the wood. You want the scrapper to be nearly parallel to the wood. This ensures you scrape off only the paint layer without gouging down into the wood below.
Use a Tack Cloth Before Painting
The last step before painting is to use a tack cloth to remove sawdust or dust from the piece's surface. Every little piece of dust or sawdust will detract from your ability to achieve a professional finish.
To learn more about furniture refinishing, contact a furniture store in your area.
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