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Has anyone refinished furniture?; Questions
Topic Started: Apr 4 2008, 07:11 AM (171 Views)
buryinghill2
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You guys are my go to for questions and advice.
I'm just starting to try to refinish some of my old disgusting furniture for the new house. I have started with a dresser I have had since childhood.
I bought a palm sander and have just started to try to sand it down. I guess I thought the palm sander was supposed to take it down to bare wood, but it's definitely not. I am using #150 sandpaper that the guy at the hardware store recommended. Is it okay to go ahead and put on the primer when there is still old finish remaining on the wood? I primed one drawer to see how it looks and it looks fine to me.
I could be here for a year trying to sand it down to the bare wood! Also, any ideas on how often I need to change the sandpaper in the palm sander?

If anyone has any experience doing this stuff I would appreciate ANY input or advice.
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OpticalIllusion
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We refinished a coffee table. There were a few spots that we couldnt sand all the way down and we just put the finish over, and those spots arent shiny like the rest. It worked out great for us actually because we used an old trunk like thing and have a beach theme in our living room.
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Trialbyfire
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Hmm...wish my dad was available for this question (retired shop teacher).....depending on the wood and your plans for the new *finish* you might be better off using a chemical stripper and then sanding any spots that don't completely come off with the stripper. If you plan to paint v. stain, your need to make it "perfect" will definitely change.

You *can* paint over anything, but you may not be happy with the results as it ages/dries, etc. It might peel or crack if there is a lot of old paint/finish underneath. My in-laws have an old dresser at the summer camp that was obviously painted over other layers of paint/finish and it is all crackly which might look cool if it wasn't so run-down...but it's definitely noticeable.

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buryinghill2
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Thankfully, I'm painting. I guess that was important to mention!
Anyway, I went ahead and put a coat of primer on it. Heading to Home Depot to get some paint and hardware this afternoon.
I'll post a picture when it's all done, maybe....
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DairyQueen2049
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DRAGON BREATH. DRAGGIN' BUTT
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I attempted it on a piece that I knew if it came out bad I'd paint. <_< :P And it is painted. :P :pissed:

HOWEVER I had my dining room chairs and table done - professionally :bigwhoop: - and it was worth every cent. :woot:
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One or the Other
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Weanling
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If you still need to take of varnish ( i dont know if you are removing that or paint), the Formby's line of products is the BEST! My mom and I stripped a dresser/vanity set when i moved into my first apt. in college, and the pieces had BLACK varnish on them that was probably years and years old. The Formby's stuff took it all off and it made a world of difference.

Hope that helps!
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OTF
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I used to watch Formby on TV (a LONG time ago). Miraculous what he could do with an old piece of furniture!

http://www.formbys.com/
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Blazn
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If you're going to paint it, all you need to worry about is getting a smooth finish and making sure the new paint will stick. So only sand enough to make the surface smooth. If it's already smooth, just rough it up a tiny bit with some fine/very fine sandpaper. Then prime with a coat of Kilz. It's a "sandable" primer, just absolutely the best stuff going. The Kilz will make the new paint stick evenly and have the same color everywhere no matter what the old paint looks like underneath.

Sand the Kilz lightly after it dries with fine sandpaper. Put on your first coat of paint. Sand it lightly after it dries with very fine sandpaper. Second coat of paint. Finish with water based polyurethane if it's something that will get a lot of use.

For best results make sure the surface is completely clean before painting it. Use a tack cloth (sticky cheesecloth available at Home Depot) to remove all dust. Keep dreck out of the paint. Remove any hairs that fall out of the brush. If you find dust/dreck/hair in it after it dries anyway, just sigh and re-sand, re-paint.

It sounds like a lot of work, but it can be fun if you're not in a hurry. Just like horse training, it takes the time it takes.
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Buryinghill1
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So where are the stinkin pictures, BH2? <3
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buryinghill2
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The dresser is done, it looks good. Right now I am tearing my hair out trying to find the hardware I took off the cabinets in the old house, because I want to put it on the dresser. I'll take pictures when the hardware is on. Spent $25 at Home Depot yesterday on hardware I brought home and don't like. :angry:
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