QA

Quick Answer: How To Refinish Wood Furniture With Stain

Can you stain over already stained furniture?

Already Stained and Finished Wood If the object you’re hoping to stain has been sealed with a topcoat, you won’t be able to restain it, but you can go over it with a coating or a colored stain blend. Apply the coat with a fine-bristle paintbrush made expressly for furniture refinishing.

Do you have to sand off stain before restaining?

You will need to power sanding to remove the stain, and then clean and brighten the wood before applying the new stain. Note: A light sanding using 60 to 80 grit may be necessary after cleaning or stripping if the surface grain lifts or feels furry.

Is it better to sand or strip furniture?

Stripping a finish is faster than sanding to remove it. But more importantly, sanding cuts through stain and patina (the color changes in wood caused by light and oxidation), and it does so unevenly. Jan 3, 2018.

How do you prepare wood furniture for staining?

Surface Preparation Start with a medium grade of sandpaper (e.g. #120) and gradually work your way to a finer grade (e.g. #220). Sand in the direction of the grain for a smooth, uniform finish and remove all sanding dust using a vacuum, dry paint brush or cloth. Look out for dried glue, especially in the joint area.

Can you put stain on top of stain?

When staining on top of the existing stain, choose the right type based on the current finish. If your existing deck stain is: Light: Apply a similar or darker color of stain with no additional preparation required. Semi-transparent: Cover the existing stain with semi-transparent or solid stain.

How do you Restain a dresser that has stained?

How to Refinish a Dresser Step 1: Choose a Stain. Staining beautifies wood and helps reduce the contrast between the different types of grains in different pieces of furniture. Step 2: Remove Hardware, Drawers and Clean Surfaces. Safety Alert! Step 3: Remove Old Finish. Step 4: Apply Sanding Sealer. Step 6: Finish It.

Can you sand stained wood and Restain?

Sanding and Staining Use coarse, 60-grit paper to remove scratches and even out the surface around divots, then 120-grit paper to even out the wood surface, and finally 240-grit paper to produce a fine finish. This will reduce the natural tendency of most wood to unevenly absorb the stain.

Can you Restain wood a different color?

But good news – using the wrong wood stain color can be fixed! The easiest thing to do when you don’t like your wood stain color is to grab a darker stain, and apply it on top of the initial stain job. If you don’t want a darker shade, sanding down the piece and re-staining is also an option.

Can you stain over varnished wood without sanding?

It is possible to apply stain over varnish. Since the purpose of a stain is to stain – or penetrate – the wood surface, once varnish has been applied, you can’t expect the same results you would get from applying stain to unvarnished wood.

Do I have to sand after stripping wood?

Sanding. Even after using the chemical stripper, you’ll still need to sand the wood. While sanding doesn’t emit harmful chemical fumes, make sure you still have enough ventilation in whatever space you’re working in, as sanding does release dust and debris into the air.

Do I need to strip furniture before staining?

When you have determined that you do need to strip a piece, always remove all the old finish or paint thoroughly. Leaving spots will yield an uneven surface when you finally start finishing it. Apply enough stripper to keep the surface wet, and never work in direct sunlight as you can dry the wood.

Do you have to completely strip furniture before staining?

There’s no stripping or heavy sanding necessary to remove the old finish! Simply give it a light sanding with fine-grit sandpaper, remove sanding dust, and brush on a coat of PolyShades® (see step-by-step instructions provided in this Guide).

How do you clean wood surfaces before staining?

Fill a spray bottle with 2 cups water. Add 2 tbsp. Mist a lint-free cleaning rag with the spray. Rub the damp cloth over the unfinished wood, rubbing with the direction of the wood grain to prevent splintering. Let the wood air dry fully before staining.

What happens if you don’t sand before staining?

You need a smooth surface with no blemishes because stain will highlight scratches and dings in the wood. Always sand down to clean wood (if you have enough meat left of the wood) before applying any stain. Too fine and the wood won’t be able to accept the stain.

Do I need to use mineral spirits before staining?

Mineral spirits can also be used for cleaning wood projects, before applying any finish. The best way to get a clean surface, which is ready for staining or varnishing, is to use mineral spirits after sanding is complete.

Does second coat of stain darken wood?

Apply a second coat of stain after the first has dried fully. This will usually produce a darker coloring, but it adds a step to the process and slows production. Leave a dampness of stain on the wood that dries to a darker coloring.

Will a solid stain cover old stain?

You can use solid stain over existing solid or semi-transparent stain, but semi-transparent stain over solid stain will look strange and won’t last. It’s designed to penetrate wood and won’t adhere well to a solid coating.

Can you layer stain colors?

Layers of stain have the same ability to add color and blend with one another while letting each contribute to the overall appearance. Probably the most common use for layered staining is in commercial finishes.