\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. To take out scratches, open a walnut and rub the meat on your furniture on any dings you find. Wipe off the excess stain using a clean cloth. Paste wax is more durable and resistant to water and stains, but it takes more effort to apply and buff. How to Varnish Wood (Varnishing Made Easy) - Bob Vila 7. 3. Move the moistened cloth or brush across the surfaces you want to polish following the grain of the wood. "How to Refinish Furniture" This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. You certainly can. Paint spatters are common on old furniture, and most of the time you can remove them easily without damaging the finish. 11 Ways to Make the Most of Your Towns Curbside For best results, apply several thin coats, not a couple of thick ones. Sanding will remove the old color so that it does not blend with the new varnish, as well as preparing the surface of the wood to soak up the new stain, preventing it from pooling or absorbing unevenly and leaving patches. How to Paint Wood Furniture Like a Pro - Real Simple Prepare the furniture. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. If you can, take the piece outside or in a well-ventilated area to work on it. How To Clean Wicker Furniture So That It Ages Gracefully - Southern Living Having good ventilation is also important as some varnishes and thinners contain strong fumes, which might make you feel lightheaded or nauseous. While there are plenty of projects where you can skip sanding, restaining or varnishing wood is not one of them. Let the cleaner sit on your furniture for 10-15 minutes before removing. Properly applied varnish will also give your bare wood furniture pieces a shiny, lustrous finish. It's amazing what a coat of gel stain can do to restore a tired-looking piece of furniture. We then show you how to stain your wood and then how to varnish your wood and then how to wet sand to give it the best finish. This process can take up to a month. Follow these steps to apply varnish to your wooden furniture. This article has been viewed 75,599 times. If you're using spray paint, shake the spray can according to instructions. Here, professionals have explained how you can refinish wood furniture at home in only four steps. 20 Tips on How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets | Family Handyman Kevin sticks self-adhesive sandpaper to tongue depressors or craft sticks to make precision sanding blocks. Wood stains are coatings that protect the surface of furniture while giving your furniture or cabinets a dramatic look from natural grain. Let dry. Never dip your brush directly into the original can of varnish so that you dont contaminate the varnish. Method 1 Prepping the Area and the Surface Download Article 1 Create good ventilation. Add a thinning agent, preferably gum turpentine, to the varnish in your mixing cup. If your wooden furniture has a layer of varnish or paint on it, you must strip it down to bare wood before performing this procedure. tend to rush through the steps. Thoroughly dry it using a clean cleaning cloth or microfiber towel. How to Stain and Finish Wood Furniture - This Old House wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Wood Oils View All Tools & Materials Note Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market. Kevin recommends liquid Ivory dish soap mixed with water. Wicker furniture experts say to use just the soapy bubbles to clean your furnitureyou don't want to soak this porous material with too much water. You can use paste wax, liquid wax, beeswax, or carnauba wax, depending on your preference, advises Goodell David, woodworker. 5 Amazingly Simple DIY Wood Polish & Conditioner Recipes - Tips Bulletin Hold the blade perpendicular to the surface. By Joe Provey Updated Nov 4, 2020 8:40 AM. Dip a sponge into the solution, wring it out, and use it to gently scrub the surface. Sand carefully to avoid removing the surrounding finish. Now your piece is ready for a new finish! Many varnishes require two or even three coats for a smooth finish -- use your own judgment, and follow the manufacturer's recommendations. The only good brush to apply varnish is a horse hair 2x2 mm bristle with a crop. If the fumes are too strong for you, consider opening a window or turning a fan on. Use proper ventilation. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. the Editors of Publications International, Ltd. There are many types to choose from, but it's important to decide on one that will work well with your furniture wood. You can use more pressure for more gloss or less pressure for more matte. Use only new varnish. Sand dry putty with a 220-grit sponge. Of equal importance is thepaintbrushused. Subscribe now from just 6 and receive issues full of inspiring real homes, expert project advice and on-trend shopping, Issues delivered direct to your door or device. Let the wax dry for about 15 minutes or until it becomes hazy. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. The good news is that it is relatively easy to refinish wood to breathe new life into your timeworn furniture. Chiana has been at Homes & Gardens for six months, having started her journey in interior journalism as part of the graduate program. Furniture refinishing: How to Refinish Furniture - The Family Handyman What kind of brush should I use to apply the varnish? This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. After 24 hours, sand the first coat with 280-grit sandpaper, then use a dry cloth to wipe away any dust. This article has been viewed 75,599 times. The oil based primer will stick to varnished or sealed wood. If it's a small piece of furniture that has a lot of curves and edges on it, try using a hand sander to make sure you roughen up all the surfaces. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Cleaning and Inspecting the Furniture Before refinishing a piece of furniture, you'll need to clean it first. The quickest way to do this is to use an electric sander or a sanding block with coarse-grit sandpaper (60 to 80 grit) to remove the old finish, says Goodell David, woodworker and founder of Woodworking Clarity. Spots that tend to hold varnish, such as tiny potholes, should be coated just once with varnish and tipped just once with the brush. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Damp dusting with a moistened cloth keeps dust out of the air, capturing it in the cloth. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Varnish-Raw-and-Unfinished-Wooden-Furniture-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Varnish-Raw-and-Unfinished-Wooden-Furniture-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Varnish-Raw-and-Unfinished-Wooden-Furniture-Step-1.jpg\/aid2220923-v4-728px-Varnish-Raw-and-Unfinished-Wooden-Furniture-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"