Antique furniture is appreciated for its style and beauty and a unique piece of furniture is also a great conversation starter. Many people take pride in their antique furniture but after a while, the look of old furniture, especially wood furniture, can start to diminish as the finish fades. Refinishing wooden antique furniture is the best way to restore its look and there are many companies that provide antique furniture restoration services.
If you prefer to restore your antique wooden furniture yourself, follow these refinishing tips to ensure that the job is done properly.
- When gathering the materials needed such as the stripper and finishes, make sure to read and understand the instructions on each product so that you use them properly. You should also set up a work station that is well ventilated so that you are not affected by the fumes from these products.
- Decide whether it is better to wash or strip the furniture. Sometimes a good cleaning or a coat of varnish is all that a piece of furniture needs to look restored. Pieces that are unpainted can be cleaned with a hand cleaner that contains pumice and using a toothbrush will help you clean in the crevices. Once the entire piece is cleaned, you can get a better assessment on whether it needs to be completely refinished or only refinished in certain spots.
- When using stripper or paint remover on the furniture, use rubber gloves and a mask and apply a thick layer of the stripper with a single brush stroke. This layer will form a skin and putting plastic bags or newspapers over the layer of stripper will prevent it from drying out. Make sure that the piece is positioned to always be horizontal when applying stripper and put tape over knobs and other accessories to protect them from spatter.
- Do not remove the layer of stripper until you can rub through the stripper down to the bare wood of the furniture using just the fat of your finger tip.
- When the stripper is ready to be removed, use either an expired credit card or putty knife to gently scrape the stripper away. Using a credit card or similar item is less likely to harm the wood.
- Once the stripper is removed, wash down the piece of furniture using the appropriate cleaner for the material. The label on most cleaning solvents will say which surfaces are appropriate for its use. Scrub the cleaner on the furniture using a stiff brush and hamster bedding which will help clean and dry the piece. You should be careful when using water on a veneered piece because too much water could lift the veneer. The goal is to restore the original finish of the piece and not create a new one.
- After the piece has been stripped and cleaned, use fine grit sandpaper to remove any remaining stripper and light scratches. The finer the grit on the sandpaper, the harder it is to make a mistake when sanding. If you are sanding over intricate shapes and molding, use a piece of old felt covered in sandpaper to fit into these areas.
- The next step of the process is applying the stain. There are many types of stains available that produce different tones but you should make sure to get stains that are color fast, direct-to-wood stains meant to enhance the grain in all wood types. Use rubber gloves and a mask while applying the stain and brush the stain on and let it sit for a minute before wiping it dry.
- Make sure to put any rags that you used throughout this process in an approved air tight container or lay them out flat to dry outside. The solvents used are flammable and make the rags a health and fire hazard.
- The final step of the process is to apply the finish itself. The easiest method is to apply wipe on finishes using a soft cloth and keeping the furniture wet until it does not absorb any more finish. After applying the finish, wipe it dry and wait 24 hours before lightly sanding the piece with 320 grade sandpaper. You may then apply another coat of finish, usually three or four coats are enough. When applying multiple coats, apply a gloss finish first and a semi-gloss finish for the last coat.
If you have a special piece of antique wooden furniture that could benefit from a refinishing, follow these steps to help bring out its original beauty. Antique furniture is an investment and it is important to follow these refinishing steps carefully to avoid ruining the furniture. If you are not comfortable restoring your antique furniture yourself, you can contact a furniture restoration company to provide this service for you. Restoring your antique furniture will not only bring the beauty back to the piece, but also add elegance to the look of your home.