Turn Trash Into Treasure with a Little Refinishing

Making something that is old and ugly look beautiful again is such a wonderful process. Watching someone's junk become your treasure is part hard work and part dreaming. As you work and see the results, you feel like an artist drawing on a canvass. This creation is yours and you will display it with love and affection. You may even be thinking about handing this delight down to your children who will look upon it with love too. Or you may be starting your own apartment or house on a budget. Rather than buying new and busting your budget, you can purchase old junky items and make them new again with your love and care. Whatever the reason you are refinishing furniture, you are an artist with a vision.

If you're like me, then you love searching for hidden treasures at places like thrift shops and yard sales. Often, you can find a fantastic item that may not look like much, but that can be given new life with a little refinishing!

For example, on one of my many yard sale jaunts, I found the most beautiful wooden rocking chair. Problem was, this chair looked terrible. No one wanted to buy it because it looked dirty and old. I plunked down $10 for this sad looking chair and took it home with me for a little tender loving care.

The first thing I did was sand the existing finish off of the rocking chair. It wasn't too hard, because there wasn't much of it left. Sanding is a crucial step because no wood piece is going to properly take a new paint or stain without it. I will say, it was a bit labor intensive, but worth it. I used a 120 grain sandpaper at first, then finished the piece with a 220 grain.

Following the sanding, I rinsed the entire chair off with a light spraying from the garden hose and sat it in the sun to dry thoroughly. After drying, I applied a coat of grain filler to fill in the grain and provide a smooth surface for the stain. This product is like a paste and after being worked in with a stiff brush, should be smoothed to a uniform finish.

Next, it was time to prime for stain using a sanding sealer. I made my own using a bit of stain plus paint thinner. After two coats of sanding sealer, it was time to sand once more using a 220 grain sandpaper.

After the sealer came the best part -- the stain! I used a rich oil based oak colored stain on this rocking chair, and I must say, it came out beautifully! By finishing with an oil based polyurethane coating, the chair was given extra durability and a gleaming shine. After the chair was completely dry, the only thing left to do was add a colorful seat cushion.

Now when guests come to my house they all want to sit in my antique rocking chair! If only they could see what it looked like when I brought it home, they'd be amazed! I know I am!

Copyright 2006 Jim Sterling - All Rights Reserved

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