Refinishing your own furniture

Like many of us, I’m not the best carpenter. However, I still like the idea of ​​making my own furniture. I only have the economy to equip a home workshop like the ones you see on TV. However, I can apply stains and finishes. Staining and finishing only requires some basic tools and expertise. Plus, if I totally mess up a piece of furniture when I finish it, all I have to do is strip the finish off and start over.

Some of the basic tools you will need are: sandpaper in various grits, some good
brushes, rags and a lot of patience. If you have an electric sander, that speeds up
the sanding process, but it is not necessary. I use a small orbital sander that both
Vibrates and swirls for a smooth finish.

In my city, there are a couple of stores that sell furniture for this type of
projects They are often called “unfinished furniture” or “raw furniture” stores.
They usually have a good selection of furniture in pine, oak and other species of
wood. You’ll usually find a good selection of furniture ranging from simple
bookcases, cabinets, coffee tables, even complete dining sets.

With a piece of furniture that is raw or unfinished, one of the most difficult decisions is how to
finish it Once again, you will have several options. You could just paint it one color to
match your decor. Or, you can tint it and finish it off with a clear top coat. And with
stains, you have a wide variety of options. You could stain it a natural looking wood.
color, or you could dye it a more vibrant color like red or purple. the main
The difference between staining and painting is that the paint is opaque and covers the wood.
surface. The dyes are transparent and reveal the beauty of the natural grain.

Your top coat or clear coat over the stain can be matte, semi-gloss or
bright. The new water-based polyurethane finishes are easy to apply, fast drying,
and a snap for cleaning. And there’s not a lot of nasty fumes with them.

The popular options at the moment are hand-painted finishes. You can paint your unfinished
furniture to look like a lovely folk piece or something from a French country
cabin. And if you’re up to the challenge, you can apply a faux paint finish to
your furniture unfinished so it looks like anything from stone to steel.

The most important thing to remember when you are finishing your own furniture,
it’s fun, take your time and don’t worry if it doesn’t turn out exactly how
planned. Sometimes the best looking pieces are not the ones you started trying on.
create!