A polyurethane finish is the most popular finish for protecting wooden furniture from scratches and general wear and tear. It also makes it water-resistant. But you may not like the glossy finish you get, or there could be imperfections as it dries and cures. Polishing your polyurethane finish can remove imperfections and help you get … Read more
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
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
Priming wood before painting gives you a better surface for the paint to adhere to, meaning you get a nicer finish that lasts longer. It does, however, add an extra step to the job and make it take longer. Trust me its almost always worth it! To minimize the time you spend on the job, … Read more
So you are wondering how long it takes for wood stain to dry? This can be a tricky question to answer, but it’s important to know the time it takes for your stain to dry. Knowing how long the drying times are will help you plan projects better and avoid any time-consuming disasters. The problem … Read more
The grain on wood is what gives it a unique appearance and it’s often the biggest selling point. Wood with a nice unique grain doesn’t come cheap, but sometimes, the grain can be an issue. Open grains take in a lot of moisture, making it hard to finish them. They also stop you from getting … Read more