Refinishing a hope chest... wood work?
Question:I'm taking my big hope chest ( about 5 ft by 2 1/2 ft) from my mother's house to finally keep it in my own.
The thing is, when she first built and gave it to me, she painted it white. I want to refinish it and have the original wood stained. What would be the best way to go about doing this?
Answers:
Step 1: Ask mom what she made it out of. If she used plywood or particle board, you'll be happier re-painting.
Step 2: Removing old finish - Sanding vs Stripping
If the surfaces are relatively smooth and there isn't too much detail/carving, then sanding is the best method. It has the advantage of avoiding chemicals which have to be neutralized and wood that has to be allowed to dry. There are tons of sanding products (paper, blocks, dremel attachments, electric sanders, etc...) to get the job done. Just take your time and work from rough grit to fine grit to get a nice smooth surface.
If the surface is very detailed/carved, this is the only time I would consider a chemical stripper. You will need to neutralize the stripper after you remove all the residue or it will ruin your new finish. And you must let the wood completely dry before starting to re-finish it. And even after using a chemical stripper, you need to sand the entire surface to smooth out the grain.
Step 3: Stain
Pick a tone you like, there's no right or wrong here. Just be aware that stain looks different on different types of wood. If you know what the piece is made of, it is easier to make choices using the displays at the store. If you're not sure what type of wood it is, then buy the smallest can possible, take it home and test it on a hidden area on the piece. (You can always sand it back off if its not quite right.)
Stain is best applied with brushes or rags. Just take your time and wipe off any excess to get an even finish. Apply 2-3 thin coats and sand lightly in between with very fine grit paper to smooth the grain each time.
Step 4: Topcoating
Again, lots of options - lacquer, polyurethane, polycrilic, oils. For most people, polyurethane is the norm. Lacquer takes some practice to get a nice finish. Oils have to be reapplied frequently to keep the new look. Polycrilic is a water-based alternative to polyurethane, but my experience has been that it tends to hold air bubbles from the brush more than polyurethane and requires more sanding and more coats to get the same look.
For the best results with polyurethane, apply in thin coats using a brush and sand lightly in between coats. Reposition the piece so that you are always applying the poly on a horizontal surface. This means moving the piece around more, but you avoid runs and drips and it allows any bubbles to rise to the surface and disappear.
Have fun with your project. It likely won't be your last.
you can rent a power sander and scrape off as much as possible and then use a paint thinner to remove what's left. it depends on what kind of paint she used though. test on a small area first so you don't wreck it.
There are many products on the market that will help strip off the old paint along with some sanding to get down to the wood grain. Patience and elbow grease will get you to the point of staining.
You can buy a paint remover, specially for wood pieces, it might not take off the old paint completely, but this does not matter as you have to sand it afterwards and before you coat with wood stain.
By sanding it, you ensure taking off any leftover old paint.
Good luck with your project, it sounds like a labor of love :)
I have redone wood work on many occasions. On the most recent occasion I decided to try a heat gun and a scraper as I have children and did not want to use chemicals. I found the heat gun to be most effect. I would suggest this way to any one. It is fast and environmentally safe. It also causes less damage to the wood its self. This also will save your arms cause the paint will peel of like butter once you get it started.
Strip the paint off completely and sand down to the original wood. Then, put on polyurithane.
More Related Questions & Answers...