Among the greatest things about timber furniture is its versatility. Wood wears more noticeably than metal, hard plastic or laminate, but it’s also a whole lot easier to spruce up. When you consider redoing a dresser that is a little too well loved, don’t merely stop at the surface shade. Examine the entire piece, and see what other changes can be created.
Cover a table or work bench using a drop cloth, and enlist a helper or two to lift the chest of drawers upon it.
Remove the drawers and take off the drawer pulls or handles. Take out the drawer glides in the event that you plan to replace them.
Sand the entire dresser gently with 180-grit sandpaper to remove any gaps in the surface and also to rough up the aged finish.
Wipe away all of the deposits caused by the sanding with tack fabrics. These are slightly sticky and are created specifically to wipe off dust and grit.
Strip off the existing paint or stain unless it’s in great condition. Apply a chemical stripper, allow it to sit until the aged finish softens or bubbles up. This will take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, so read the tag.
Scrape away the aged end with a hard plastic scraper or putty knife.
Sand the door with 220-grit seams to eliminate the last traces of the old finish and make the surface smooth. Wipe it down with a clean tack cloth.
Brush on or spray on a wood tip to cover the existing color of the wood and assist the paint or stain stick without soaking to it.
Allow the primer dry completely and then apply your paint or stain. Allow the first coat dry completely before putting on another coat. This is particularly important with stain since it can dry several shades darker than it goes forth.
Seal your chest of drawers using polyurethane spray to protect the new end. Let it dry thoroughly. This can take longer than the time on the tag if you are finishing your job on a rainy day, or your climate is generally moist.
Replace the drawer pulls or handles with fresh ones, or change the color of their old ones before putting them back on. Unscrew and replace the legs of the dresser to make it look like a brand new piece.