Refurbish Wood Furniture without Sanding

November 20, 2018

Refurbish Wood Furniture without Sanding

This is an easy method to refurbish wood furniture without messy sanding or stripping.

Today I am sharing an easy method to refurbish wood furniture without sanding or stripping the old finish. The dresser I am working on is from the early 1900's and is in very rough shape.

Before: Early 1900's dresser. Unfortunately there is significant damage to the finish.

While I was working on repairs I thought it would be a good project to demonstrate how to refurbish the wood top. If you have a piece that is valuable then it is best to have it professionally restored, so do some research first. But a professional restoration can be expensive, so if you need an easy fix then this method might work for you.

The finish on the top of the dresser is in poor condition, but it's easy to fix.

As you can see in the photos the finish on the top of the dresser is in poor condition. First I cleaned the top with soap and water to make sure it was free of dirt and oils.

First test the stain in an inconspicuous area.

Then I used a foam brush to apply a gel stain. Find a color that best matches the piece you are working on. For my dresser I used General Finishes Antique Walnut Gel Stain (the links to the products I used for this project are affiliate links. It doesn't cost you extra). Before you jump in you might want to test the stain in an inconspicuous area first.

It might look hopeless, but a foam brush and gel stain saved the day.

I spread the stain over the entire surface with the foam brush. Then I used a blue shop towel (folded in quarters) to wipe away the excess stain. The blue shop towels are disposable, absorbent, and basically lint free so they work well for this project. I wear disposable gloves for this part of the project.

Fold the shop towel into quarters and wipe off the excess stain.

Sweep the shop towel across the piece following the pattern of the wood grain. Refold the towel when it becomes saturated. I keep a roll of towels nearby in case I need more.

Wipe on, wipe off. It's that easy! Here it is after one coat.

Since I didn't sand the piece the scratches are still there, but they aren't noticeable anymore.

I can still detect hints of a couple of water rings, although I don't think it's too noticeable. A second application of stain would make it even less noticeable. But I plan to paint this piece, so I will leave it with one coat.

I can still detect hints of water rings, but a second application would make it less noticeable.

If you don't plan to paint then once you are satisfied with the finish it can be sealed to assure a lasting finish. I typically use General Finishes High Performance Top Coat in either the flat or satin finish. Let the stain dry thoroughly (at least 24 hours) before applying the sealant coat. I usually apply 2-3 top coats with a foam brush (let dry between coats). For the smoothest finish you can lightly sand in between coats.

Use this easy method to refurbish wood furniture.

SO WHY ARE YOU GOING TO PAINT THE DRESSER?

The restored finish looks pretty darn good, so you might be wondering why I plan to paint the dresser. First, because I am a furniture painter, but secondly because there is significant damage to the wood veneer on the front of the dresser. But don't worry it will look beautiful when it's finished! UPDATE: You can see the finished painted project HERE.