Perhaps you have a chest of drawers or old wooden chair that has become loose, wobbly and scratched. Rather than throw away a perfectly good piece of furniture, you should consider repairing it yourself. If you have some old furniture that is in need of repair, you should know several things about the tools, materials and techniques available for a successful project. Does this Spark an idea?
Refinishing
Use sandpaper (60-, 80- and 120-grit) to remove old paint, urethane and stains. Begin with 60-grit paper to remove finishes, then 80-grit for evening the surface and finally 120- to 220-grit to smooth the surface before refinishing. Refinish with interior paints, stains and finishes for furniture that will remain indoors; use exterior paints, stains and finishes for outdoor furniture. Oil-based products will dry quickly and allow for faster project completion, while water-based products will clean up easier.
Use cotton rags to wipe on stains and urethane finishes, and a fine-bristled brush for paints (sand lightly between coats). You can also recoat with a different color or look--choose milk paint or crackle for a new antique style. Be creative. For example, add paint thinner to silver, red, gold and blue paint and apply with a cotton rag; this will create a transparent color that will expose wood grain as well.
Wood Joints
Repair old drawers and other wood connections that have separated or become crooked. Remove old glue from furniture joinery with a razor knife. Re-glue the joints with wood glue and clamp them until they are dry. Wipe away any excess glue with a damp cloth and use a wood scraper to remove dry glue. Use a square to ensure your furniture is not crooked before renailing or attaching. Reattach chest backs with small finish nails. Fill holes and broken wood with wood filler to match the stain color and sand smooth. Remove and replace any broken or damaged hardware. Clean old metal hardware with metal cleaner, but tape the wood with blue painter's tape first to keep the cleaner away from the wood.
Upholstery
Stitch ripped and torn materials with appropriately colored stitching materials. Re-cover cushions with cloth by sewing matching materials. You may also have a professional upholsterer re-cover your leather, suede or cloth materials. Replace worn cushion material with new poly-foam fillers.
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