How to Refinish a Wood Table
Whether you've stumbled across a great find at your neighborhood garage sale, or you have a piece of furniture handed down to you, chances are the piece is in dire need of some rejuvenation. It could be a coffee table, dresser, nightstand or an array of other items, but the process is generally pretty similar. While there are some exceptions to the process depending upon certain materials, this will cover most of your solid wood pieces.
The first step in bringing a piece of furniture back to life is to sand, baby, sand! Not many people particularly enjoy this process, but it is extremely necessary to remove any old finishes, paints and any other imperfections from the project's surface. Always start with a bit of a lower grit for more efficient material removal. A good starting point would be somewhere in the 60-80 grit range. As material is removed, gradually work your way up through 120, 180 and finally around 220 grit papers. This should leave your workpiece paint and debris free, and ready to take on your new finish.
Deciding which finish to apply to your project entirely depends on the application and location of your furniture piece. If you plan to have the furniture outdoors, I have found that an oil-based polyurethane can work well to combat moisture and rot but be sure to apply this finish liberally, and ensure you perform a light sanding between coats. Doing this step properly will ensure that the next layer of polyurethane will have a good surface to adhere to. I recommend 4-5 coats of finish for this application. I also recommend polyurethane for items such as coffee tables that will be introduced to moisture through drinks and food, but you should be okay to apply 2-3 coats of finish for applications like these.
For other items, such as dressers and nightstands, you can use a bit of a less aggressive finish. My recommendation for these applications would be a lacquer or a shellac finish. These finishes are applied in a similar manner as our previously mentioned polyurethane finish, but the quicker drying times may make the project easier to complete for you. Another available option would be to paint the furniture at this point with a color of your liking but be sure to apply a couple layers of painting primer prior to painting the surface!
Lastly, replacing any hardware, such as knobs and hinges, can really set off a refurbished piece of furniture. Most hardware is relatively universal for drawer knobs and such, but I recommend taking your existing hardware with you to the hardware store to ensure a perfect fit. With this information you should be ready to dabble in recreating your furniture. Don't get discouraged with the process and you are sure to be successful in your new endeavor. Good luck!
