How to Refinish a Sewing Cabinet

Take the sewing machine out of the cabinet table and disassemble the cabinet. Unscrew and remove any control boxes, wire tracks and metal plates. Unscrew hinges, knobs and handles. Remove any folding leafs. Unscrew and remove any sliding drawer tracks. Take off any other removable parts.

Place removed drawers, leafs and cabinet doors on a separate, protected work surface for working on.

Remove the existing finish from all wood cabinet surfaces with stripper or solvent. Use the appropriate remover for the type of finish, such as lacquer thinner for lacquer, denatured alcohol for shellac or paint and urethane stripper for urethane. Wear protective clothing and work in a ventilated environment.

Paint the wood with wood or chlorine bleach to lighten the original wood stain. After bleaching, wipe down all cabinet surfaces with a sponge soaked with a solution of 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts water to neutralize the bleach.

Sand the wood starting with 120-grit sandpaper and finishing with 220-grit sandpaper. Wipe away the sanding dust with a tack cloth.

Coat the wood with a generous layer sanding sealer. Paint on sealer following the direction of the wood grain. Allow the sealer to soak into the wood for several minutes then wipe away any excess.

Allow the wood to dry then sand it again lightly with 220-grit sandpaper. Wipe away the sanding dust with a tack cloth.

Apply a generous coat of wood stain, working in the direction of the wood grain. Apply stain with a brush or cloth. Allow the stain to absorb into the wood for 30 seconds then wipe off any excess stain with a rag. Allow the stain to dry.

Apply one or more coats of stain as required to enrich and even the coloration. Allow the final coat to dry.

Paint the wood surfaces with polyurethane sealer. Apply three coats. Allow each coat to dry and lightly sand them with 220-grit sandpaper before adding a subsequent coat.

Reassemble the sewing cabinet after the last coat of sealer dries.