The correct option to give a new beautifully appearance for the pieces of wood furniture without needing to cover up the grain is staining. It will be so welcome option since there is not required a lot of costs (inexpensive option), and so recommended for pieces of solid wood. On the other hand, you can choose to repaint or re-prime for pieces of faux or laminate wood furniture. Staining wood furniture is not too difficult project and you can do it on your own successfully if you completely understand on how to do it. Moreover, it will be so helpful to extend the life of the furniture and once again will be helpful for you on saving money from purchasing of new piece. It comes in a wide range of finished and colors. Therefore, make sure you choose one that will match to the existing color schemes and decors of the room where you place the furniture.
What to look for in staining wood furniture? The following are pieces of helpful & simple information for you:
Stripping stain from your furniture!
Well, you have to strip the old stain before applying your own, particularly if your piece has been finished before! Prepare a drop cloth then put your wood furniture on it. In order to remove and clean the old finish powerfully and clearly, a metal scraper and chemical stripper are great idea. But use some that are more specifically defined for hardwood. This consideration is so important because there are also available some of chemical strippers that are specifically formulated for tile or metal that will cause bad effect or damage if applied on the surfaces of wood. So, not all chemical strippers are purposed for hardwood!
Then take a look at the varnish remover and apply it & see in it for process! Next use a clean cloth to wipe the varnish remover. And scrapping where necessary! Use a cloth or damp sponge to wipe down the wood.
Before staining you have to sand the furniture first!
Use the grain to sand lightly the surfaces of the wood. Start with coarse sandpaper then use it to sand the entire surface! Then move with a finer grit to re-sand again the entire surface of the wood. For smaller details & crevices, use a fine steel wool or fine grit sandpaper. In order to accelerate the sanding process, you can try with an helpful electric sander, especially for large pieces of wood furniture that have more large flat surfaces, like wood bookcases, tables, etc. Don’t forget to make sure that all rough edges & remnants of old stain or paint are completely removed.
Now it’s time for staining wood furniture!
Prepare a fine paintbrush and then use it to apply stain to the surface of the wood with even strokes. Use a rag to wipe the excess. Allow the entire surface of wood that is stained to dry completely. You can also try with a second coat if necessary.
After the stained wood is dry completely then begin to sand lightly it with proper grit sandpaper. Use a damp cloth to clean the excess and dust.
Then don’t miss to brush on polyurethane varnish in order to protect and seal the entire surface of the wood in long term; then allow it to completely dry. For more resilient surface or a shinier, you can add or use extra coats of polyurethane. Note, allow your furniture to completely dry around a day between coats.
In addition for safety precautions; wear and use protective gloves, eyewear and do the project in the well-ventilated area! This is so important for safety and in order to prevent damage or injury due to chemical inhalation. Use also a protective mask if you want to involve a top coat or a sprat varnish! Make sure the area where you choose to do the project is far away from an open flame or spark, because some products that are used in refinishing furniture are flammable. After finishing the project, make sure you store all equipments and chemicals safely & out of the reach of your kids.
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