How to Repair & Refinish Wood Furniture
- 1). Brush a heavy coat of chemical stripper onto the wood furniture with the white China bristle brush, and let it sit until the old finish begins to peel.
- 2). Scrape the old finish off with the putty knife. Take care not to damage the wood. Remove stubborn areas of the old finish with the medium-grade steel wool.
- 3). Sand the entire piece of wood furniture with 120-grit sandpaper. Sand to remove any remaining bits of the old finish and to remove any damage to the wood. Use the sandpaper to even out any scratches, dents or gouges in the wood. Wipe the wood clean of sawdust with a tack cloth.
- 4). Sand the entire piece of furniture again with 220-grit sandpaper. Smooth the entire surface of the wood. Further smooth out any marks on the wood until they are even with the rest of the wood surface.
- 5). Repair any weakened areas of the wood furniture. Glue loosened joints of the wood furniture together with the wood glue. Allow the glue to completely dry. Tighten any loosened screws in the wooden furniture with the screwdriver.
- 6). Brush on a coat of sanding sealer to ensure the new finish absorbs into the wood.
- 7). Wipe stain onto the wood furniture with a clean cloth. Allow the new finish to absorb into the wood, and wipe off the excess finish with a new cloth. Allow the stain to completely dry. Check the manufacturer's instructions for approximate drying time.
- 8). Brush a thin coat of polyurethane onto the furniture with the white China bristle brush. Work slowly to ensure no bubbles appear in the polyurethane. Allow the polyurethane to dry, and check the manufacturer's instructions for approximate drying time. Sand the furniture with 220-grit sandpaper, then brush on a second thin coat.
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