Instructions on Refinishing a Lane Cedar Chest

Refinishing a Lane cedar chest will restore its appearance

A Lane cedar chest is a high quality, durable piece of furniture. After a long period of time, your Lane cedar chest can become scuffed and worn from wear and tear. Refinish your Lane cedar chest and restore its appearance by removing the original finish and applying a new one.

Things You'll Need

• Stain
• Chemical stripper
• Polyurethane
• Sanding sealer
• 120-grit sandpaper
• 220-grit sandpaper
• Cloths
• Brushes
• Putty knife
• Steel wool

Instructions

1. Brush a heavy coat of chemical stripper onto the Lane cedar chest to remove the original finish. Let the stripper sit on the wood until the old finish begins to peel.

2. Scrape the old finish off the Lane cedar chest with a putty knife. Work slowly to avoid gouging the wood. Scrub the finish off of corners and crevices with steel wool. Wipe the chest clean with a damp cloth.

3. Sand the Lane cedar chest with 120-grit sandpaper to finally remove any last bits of the old finish. Wipe the chest clean with a cloth and sand the wood again with 220-grit sandpaper. Wipe the wood clean before proceeding.

4. Brush a thick coat of sanding sealer onto the Lane cedar chest and allow it to soak into the wood for several minutes before wiping off any excess with a clean cloth. Allow the sealer to dry before lightly sanding the wood with 220-grit sandpaper.

5. Brush a coat of stain onto the Lane cedar chest and allow it to soak into the wood for several minutes before wiping off any excess with a clean cloth. Allow the stain to completely dry, usually overnight.

6. Apply a light coat of polyurethane onto the Lane cedar chest with a brush to protect the new finish. Allow the coat to dry and lightly sand the wood with 220-grit sandpaper. Brush a second light coat of polyurethane onto the chest and allow it to completely dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a plastic putty knife to ensure you don't damage the wood.

• Work the grain of the wood at all times.

• Wear eye and hand protection when sanding or using chemicals.

• Work in a ventilated area.

References

• Lowe's: How to Refinish Furniture