Priming is a key step when painting furniture. It creates a good surface for the paint to bond to, so you get a better finish that lasts longer. Primer covers stains on old furniture so they don’t leak through the paint too. However, it is only effective if you let it dry fully before you … Read more
When painting furniture, you should always use primer first. It stops stains and bleed-through and helps the paint stick better, so the end finish is better. But how many coats do you need? I recommend anywhere from 1-3 coats of primer before painting wood furniture. If the wood has lots of natural oils (tannins) and … Read more
When choosing wood stain colors, most people opt for a shade of brown. But what if you want a darker color like black? You can use pigmented wood stain to stain wood black. These come in oil and water-based varieties, as well as gel and dye. Wood furniture, flooring, and decks can all be stained … Read more
Staining wood black gives you a unique look but it can be hard to get right. A lot of products struggle to give you the rich color you need, especially when applied incorrectly. This guide will take you through the different types of black wood stain, with some of my recommendations for the best products. … Read more
Bar clamps are an essential tool for many woodworking projects. Even though they’re quite simple, there is a big difference between good ones and bad ones. This guide will take you through the different types of bar clamps and some of my top recommendations. What is a Bar Clamp? A bar clamp is a simple … Read more
Respirators are designed to protect you against fumes and dust that you could breathe in when doing DIY projects. But do you need one for refinishing and painting furniture? Yes, in many cases, it’s a good idea. This article will explain why they’re so important and give you some of my recommendations for the best … Read more
Tung oil is an excellent finish for any wood projects from flooring to furniture. But many people are unsure about how the oil will affect the color of the wood and whether it will darken it or not. Pure tung oil will not darken wood, but it will give it an amber tint. However, dark … Read more
You finally found a furniture refinishing project that you want to get started on, but where do you start? After some simple cleaning and degreasing often your next step is removing the current finish, whether its paint, stain, or a simple topcoat the process is actually quite simple. My guide today focuses on removing stain … Read more
If you have an old cane chair that has seen better days, don’t throw it out just yet. You can cane the chair yourself and restore it instead. There are 3 main ways to cane a chair and this guide will take you through all of them, so you can decide which one is right … Read more
Paint sprayers are great if you want to save time and get a nice finish without all of the hard work. You can use them on all kinds of surfaces so they’re a good investment whether you’re painting furniture, fences, walls and ceilings, or possibly even your car. However, you need to do your research … Read more