How to Refinish a Colonial Hutch

Removing the Old Finish

• 1

  Put down a drop cloth in a spacious, well-ventilated area. Stripping agents and stains give off fumes that can be dangerous if breathed in a closed-in space.

• 2

  Remove the cabinet door hinges, handles and other hardware with a screwdriver. This will make the rest of the refinishing process easier and keep you from getting the stain on the metal.

• 3

  Take out the glass panels in the Colonial hutch's cabinet doors, if they can be removed. Set them aside in a place where they will not get broken. If the glass cannot be taken out, use paint tape around its edges to keep chemicals and stain from getting on the glass. Remove the cabinet doors and take out the drawer.

• 4

  Put on goggles and rubber gloves and apply stain stripper to all wooden surfaces in a thick, even coat. Allow the stripper time to soak into the stain or varnish, but do not let it dry.

• 5

  Use the putty knife to peel off as much of the softened stain or varnish as possible. For stubborn spots or delicate, hard-to-reach areas like spindles, rub the hutch's finish with steel wool. Fortunately, a Colonial hutch's classic lines usually do not include many of these delicate places.

• 6

  Remove the stain stripper using water or a chemical stripper remover or thinner. The product you use will depend on the brand of stain stripper; follow the directions on the stain stripper's packaging. Allow the hutch to dry.

Sanding and Finishing

• 7

  Rub sandpaper over any spots on which the original finish remains, first using 120-grit paper. Finish with the smaller-grained 220-grit sandpaper to achieve as smooth a surface as possible.

• 8

  Work grain filler into the wood with a stiff paintbrush and allow it to dry. Scrape off any excess with the putty knife and lightly sand the hutch again.

• 9

  Apply the stain with a paintbrush, painting with the grain. Allow the stain to penetrate the wood until it reaches the desired shade, then wipe off the excess with a clean rag. Allow the Colonial hutch to dry.

• 10

  Apply sanding sealer, wiping off the excess with a rag. Let it dry and then lightly sand the hutch once more. Brush on a top finish. Repeat this process on the drawer and cabinet doors and allow the entire hutch to dry completely.

• 11

  Replace the glass in the Colonial hutch's cabinet doors, removing the painting tape. Put the cabinet doors back on and replace the drawer.