Category: Base preparation techniques: Furniture

New unfinished furniture:

Typically, new unfinished furniture is ready for priming, staining or varnishing. If there are any scratches or chips, fill with wood filler . Allow to fully dry. Sand smooth with 220 grit sandpaper, always sanding with the direction of the wood grain. You are now ready to prime, stain or varnish the piece of furniture.

For decorative finishing techniques, such as antiquing, marbling, and gilding techniques refer to artSparx archives.

Old unfinished furniture:

Old unfinished furniture usually refers to pieces that have been stripped of their finish and are now in their original raw wood or metal state.  wood filler can be used to fill any irregularities. On metal surfaces, Bondo can be used to repair dings, or to resecure loose areas. Properly glue and clamp any loose wood areas. Refer to artSparx glue techniques for more assistance. Once areas filled are dry, sand smooth. Using a tack cloth, remove any excess dirt and sanding dust. You are now ready to prime, stain or varnish your piece of furniture.

New painted, stained, varnished or waxed furniture:

To re-paint furniture:

Thoroughly clean piece to be refinished. Lightly sand object, sanding with the direction of the grain when possible. The objective is to create ‘tooth’ on the surface. By sanding the finished surface, the surface becomes slightly rough (creating tooth) and allows the subsequent layer of primer to effectively ‘bite’ onto the surface, or to adhere properly. Prime furniture with the appropriate primer. To determine the correct primer, to use refer to the artSparx primer resource. Once primer is completely dry, begin applying base color (for decorative techniques) or finished coat (for one color application).

For waxed surfaces, it is recommended that the furniture be completely stripped so that no wax or residue remains before repainting, staining or varnishing.

To stain or varnish:

Remove existing paint, stain, varnish or wax by using the stripper and stripping method of your choice. To determine the correct stripper and method best suited for your project, refer to the artSparx stripper resource. The furniture can also be ‘dipped’ in a chemical bath to remove the existing finish. This should be performed by a professional facility only.

Wood staining Learn how

Once surface is stripped, refer to the new unfinished furniture area in this artSparx resource to complete the preparation. 

For staining techniques visit the artSparx staining tutorial.

Old painted, varnished, stained or waxed furniture:

To re-paint furniture:

Thoroughly clean piece to be refinished. Lightly sand object, sanding with the direction of the grain when possible. The objective is to create ‘tooth’ on the surface. By sanding the finished surface, the surface becomes slightly rough (creating tooth) and allows the subsequent layer of primer to effectively 'bite' onto the surface, or to adhere properly. Fill any areas with wood filler , and allow to dry completely. Sand filled areas and remove any dust with a tack cloth. Prime furniture with the appropriate primer. To determine the correct primer to use, refer to the artSparx primer resource. Once primer is completely dry, begin applying base color (for decorative techniques) or finished coat (for one color application).

For waxed surfaces, it is recommended that the furniture be completely stripped so that no wax or residue remains before repainting, staining or varnishing.

To stain or varnish:

Remove existing paint, stain, varnish or wax by using the stripper and stripping method of your choice. To determine the correct stripper and method best suited for your project, refer to the artSparx stripper resource. The furniture can also be dipped in a chemical bath to remove the existing finish. This should be preformed by a professional facility only.

Once surface is stripped refer to the old unfinished furniture area in this artSparx resource to complete the preparation.