How can I refinish wooden furniture?

Rather than throwing a piece of furniture out because it is in poor shape, you may want to consider refinishing it instead. It is relatively easy and low cost to refinish old or damaged furniture. Before you refinish furniture, make sure that it is not a valuable antique which could be damaged by your refinishing job. If you are refinishing for the first time, it is also a good idea to select a simple piece of furniture for you to experiment with before embarking on a large and complex project. There are three basic steps for a refinish: stripping, preparing, and applying the new finish. To strip furniture, many people like to use a chemical finish remover. Sandpaper can be used, but it is important that only the top layer of finish be removed with sandpaper: you do not want to damage the actual grain of the wood. When using a chemical finish remover to refinish, apply it liberally and in sections from top to bottom. Follow the manufacturer's directions, which usually involve leaving ...  more