Taking an old piece of wooden furniture that's not terribly damaged and giving it a new lease on life with a little sanding, priming and painting is not as complicated as you might think. In fact, the process is rather simple and typically yields great results, as long as you adhere to some simple rules and pay attention to the process.
Tools You'll Need
- Screwdriver (to remove any hardware from the furniture)
- Drop cloth or some newspaper
- Sandpaper sheets (five or more sheets each of rough, medium and fine; 80, 150 and 220 grit for instance)
- Electric sander (it will save you lots of time)
- Two fine synthetic brushes
- Wood primer
- Paint of choice
Prep
Before you undertake any type of furniture refinishing, always make
sure you're not dealing with a valuable antique or heirloom. If you're
confident it's not an original Ruhlmann, destined to land you big bucks
at auction, then go ahead and move it into a well-ventilated workroom.
Place a drop cloth or newspaper under the under the piece. Remove
drawer pulls and other pieces of hardware.
Sanding
Begin sanding with the paper that has the roughest grit (probably a 60 or 80 grit-the grit is a number written on the back of the paper). Go over the piece once or twice to remove old paint, sanding in the direction of the grain when possible. Remember to periodically check the sandpaper you're using and replace it if worn. After one complete sanding, wipe residual dust off the piece with a damp cloth trying not get the wood too wet. Grab a piece of finer-grain sandpaper (e.g., move from a 60 to 150, eventually to a 220) and go over the piece again.
We must be honest—sanding can be time-consuming. If you're working on furniture with intricate detailing or one that has 25 coats of paint on it, you may want to consider having the piece professionally stripped—check the Yellow Pages for furniture refinishers in your area. It may cost you $100 or more, but the professionals will do the dirty work and all you'll have to do is prime and paint.
Priming
You apply primer just like paint—brush it on one coat at a time. Primer is important because paint settles better on primer than it does on bare wood; primer is the foundation. Brush on one coat of primer with a fine synthetic brush. Allow it to dry (should take an hour or two, but be sure to check the directions on the can). After drying, if the primer looks spotty or if dark spots from the wood show through, add another coat of primer. But before brushing on the second coat feel the first application; sand down any rough spots before the second coat of primer.
Painting
Once primer is dry, it is time to add a coat of paint. With a clean brush, apply a coat of paint, making sure to stroke in the direction of the grain when possible. Let dry. Sand lightly with very fine sandpaper. Add one more coat of paint and you should be done. Remember, two thin coats of paint are better than one thick coat of paint.
Extra Credit
If you think the piece needs more protection, try a topcoat or two of polyurethane. Be sure to follow directions on the can. Polyurethane will keep the painted piece looking fresh and new for years to come.
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