Staining and Refinishing Furniture

In my last article we went over preparing the piece of furniture for staining or refinishing. In this article you will learn how to stain or refinish your prepared furniture. Some people like to leave the wood grain visible. If that is your preference stain would be your choice.

Stains cover the wood but leave the grain visible. You can use oil or water based stains. Water stains dry quickly but may be uneven and can loosen glue in the wood. Oil stains are brushed on the wood and the excess is wiped off. Let the wood dry and stain again if you want a darker color.

There are different finishing products, depending on your preference. You can use oil, wax, or varnish on everyday pieces. You might want French polish for your fine furniture. Or you can choose to paint your furniture.

1. French Polish: This is the most difficult and least durable finish, but it gives the most beautiful shine, especially on close grained woods like mahogany, and ebony. Keep a French polished piece out of the sun or it will crack, and keep alcohol away or it will stain. Before polishing be sure the wood is free of dust, well sanded, and completely sealed. Apply the polish lightly in circles. Add linseed oil if the polish does not sink in. Let the polish dry for 24 hours, and wipe furniture with denatured alcohol.

2. Wax: Wax goes directly on the wood or on top of the sealer. Use beeswax or carnauba wax mixed with turpentine and heated to a softened paste consistency. Apply wax thickly on the wood and let dry, then polish wood to a shine.

3. Varnish: Synthetic polyurethane varnish creates a strong finish on wood, while shellac allows the wood to breath better. Brush on varnish evenly and allow the wood to completely dry. Then sand with fine sandpaper or steel wool. Add more layers for a stronger finish. Polish with linseed oil.

4. Oil:Use oil alone or on top of varnish. You may have to re-oil occasionally because oil is not a strong finish. Linseed oil mixed with turpentine is commonly used, especially for hard woods such as oak. Rub in the oil with a cloth until it stops sinking into the wood. Let the oil soak in a few hours, then remove the excess with a rag and let the wood dry.

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