How to Refinish an Antique China Cabinet

Refinishing a valuable antique is not recommended in most cases. Part of the beauty as well as the monetary value of the antique lies in the patina of the wood and the hardware--refinishing the piece may significantly reduce its worth. If refinishing is your choice, preparing the china cabinet by removing the old finish may be the most challenging part of your project. However, it is possible to give your antique cabinet a new look.

Things You'll Need

• Screw driver
• Painter's tape
• Medium and light grade sandpaper
• Paint stripper
• Wood scraper
• 00 steel wool
• Naphtha
• Stain and sponge or paint, primer and related supplies
• Polyurethane finish

Instructions

1. Remove the doors, drawers and any shelving from the top and the base of the cabinet. Run a strip of tape on the glass of your antique china cabinet wherever it meets wood. Painter's tape works best as it is easier to remove without leaving a tacky surface.

2. Sand the wood surfaces of the cabinet with medium grade sandpaper if the china cabinet was previously stained. If the cabinet is not damaged, you only need to break the surface of the stain with light grade sandpaper. Most antiques that need refinishing will have damage and medium grade sandpaper will be needed. If there is a thick build up of paint, you may prefer using a paint stripper. Your stripper should be solvent washable as a water washable stripper can impair the wood. Follow all directions on the stripper for application and disposal. Remove the crackled finish and stripper from the wood with a soft wood scraper.

3. Sand the wood with light grade sandpaper to remove most of the scratches left by the medium paper. If you used paint stripper, apply a thin coat of Naphtha to wash the cabinet and remove any stripping residue. A thin coat of lacquer thinner after the cabinet is dry will help protect the wood and prepare it for refinishing. Let the china cabinet dry.

4. Apply a thin coat of stain or a coat of primer to the wood surfaces of your antique. Let the finish dry according to the manufacturer's directions. If staining, you may need to steel wool the surface before adding your second application.

5. Apply a second coat of stain or a coat of paint and let it dry. Apply a polyurethane topcoat to protect the finish.

6. Replace the shelving and the hardware. Remove the tape and clean the glass.

Tips & Warnings

• Try cleaning your antique cabinet with lemon oil or other commercially available wood cleaners before you resort to refinishing.

• Wear protective gear when stripping and finishing wood.