How to Restore Old Furniture

If you want to save time and money, don't shop for new furniture. Instead, give your old wood furniture a face lift. Once you learn how to restore old furniture, you'll wonder why you didn't attempt it sooner. With the right tools and a little elbow grease, your old furniture will look as good as new in no time. Read on to learn how to restore old furniture. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Choose a location where the restoration will take place. If you can't take your old furniture outdoors, a room with proper ventilation will suffice.

2

Apply a drop cloth or old newspapers on the ground and place the furniture on top.

3

Put on rubber gloves and pour the semi-paste stripper into an aluminum can.

4

Dip the paint brush into the stripper and apply it to the furniture. Work in small sections, as not to get overwhelmed.

5

Wait approximately 10 minutes, then remove the old finish with a putty knife. Continue with this method until you can see clean wood.

6

Allow the furniture to dry for several hours, otherwise, the sandpaper will get gunked up from the semi-paste stripper.

7

Sand the entire surface of your old furniture with the sandpaper. Go with the grain; not against it. Once it has been sanded, wipe it down with a tack cloth to remove dust.

8

Use a new paint brush to apply gel stain. Allow the stain to penetrate the wood for five minutes, then wipe off excess stain with a clean cloth. Allow the furniture to dry for 24 hours.

9

Apply a finishing top coat to protect your furniture and make it shine.