How to Restain Furniture

Restained antique wood cabinet door.

Stained furniture looks dark, or stained in a way that brings out the natural grain and pattern of wood furniture. Sometimes furniture may need to be restained if the surface is damaged, or when a different color stain or shade is desired. It does not have to be difficult to restain furniture, if done correctly. Restaining furniture can save hundreds, even thousands of dollars. Instead of having to buy new furniture, an old piece of furniture can be restained to fit in with any design theme within a home.

Things You'll Need

• Old newspaper
• Tarps
• Cotton gardening gloves
• Dust mask
• Eye goggles
• Electric sander
• 220 grit sandpaper
• Tack cloth
• Clean paint brushes
• 150 grit sandpaper
• Chemical stripping agent
• Putty knife
• Old rag
• Stain
• Polyurethane
• 100 grit sandpaper

Instructions

1. 

   Cover neighboring furniture with a tarp.

   Put old newspaper on floor. Place tarps over furniture that is not being re-stained to protect from wood dust. Open windows for proper ventilation, or ideally, work on furniture outside if weather permits. Seal off air conditioning vents if working inside, to eliminate the risk of wood dust circulating through air filters.

2. 

   Electric sander for furniture.

   Put on cotton gardening gloves to protect hands from splinters, and a dust mask. Wear eye goggles. Sand furniture surface evenly, in the direction of the grain with the electric sander and 220 grit sandpaper. Remove wood dust with tack cloth or a clean paint brush. Sand delicate furniture by hand with 150 grit sandpaper. Make sure to sand in hard to reach sections, and remove wood dust.

3. 

   Use a putty knife for scraping.

   Strip furniture with a chemical stripping agent to ready the surface. Dip a clean paint brush into the chemical stripping agent and apply in even strokes. Wait for the chemical agent to bubble. Then begin scraping with a putty knife. Clean the end of the putty knife with an old rag as you scrape each section of furniture, so the agent does not dry on the knife and interfere with scraping.

4. 

   150 grit sandpaper.

   Sand the surface with 150 grit sandpaper after the chemical agent is completely removed. This will remove excess stripping agent and roughen the grain so the stain absorbs better into the fibers of the wood. Remove wood dust with a clean paint brush.

5. 

   Paintbrush dipped in furniture stain.

   Apply stain in smooth strokes. Choose a water-based stain for dry types of wood. Dip a clean paint brush into furniture stain. Apply two coats, letting the first coat dry before applying a second coat. Use a water and insect proof polyurethane finish to seal in the stain. Apply the first coat of polyurethane. Let dry overnight.

6. Gently sand the first coat the following day with 100 grit sandpaper. Do not remove finish. Sand lightly to roughen the surface for the second coat of polyurethane. Remove wood dust with a clean paint brush. Apply the second coat of polyurethane and let dry.

References

• RefinishFurniture.com: Paint Stripper
• BobVila: Repairing Furniture
• BobVila: Care and Repair of Outdoor Furniture
• RefinishFurniture.com: Prepare Unfinished Furniture