How to Refinish Old Wood Chairs

If you have looked at the price of new wood chairs recently, you will quickly understand the benefit of refinishing old wood chairs to give them a fresh look. Refinishing not only saves money, it also preserves beautiful antique furnishings that are only in need of a little refurbishing. Many different stains and paints are available to give old chairs a new finish. All it takes is some time, a clear area in which to work and a few products that are available at a hardware or home improvement store.

Wood soap
Paint stripper
Scraper or putty knife
100-grit sandpaper
Steel wool
Cloths
Brushes
Wood stain
Polyurethane or varnish for final coat
Plastic sheet
Newspapers

Instructions

- 1
  Cover your work area with a clear plastic sheet and newspapers to prevent staining the floor.
- 2
  Wash the surface of the old chair with wood soap to remove dirt, dust and grease.
- 3
  Apply a chemical paint stripper to the old finish. Leave it on the surface for the amount of time recommended by the product manufacturer.
- 4
  Scrape the old finish off the chair with a putty knife or paint scraper, being careful not to gouge the wood.
- 5
  Remove paint from small surfaces and crevices, using steel wool.
- 6
  Wash off the chemical stripper. Sand the wood with 100-grit sandpaper until the surface is smooth to the touch.
- 7
  Wipe the surface to remove sanding grit.
- 8
  Brush on wood stain. You may need several coats to achieve the right tone. Allow the stain to dry.
- 9
  Apply a polyurethane or varnish finish with a brush or by spraying. Allow it to dry for at least 24 hours before using the chair.

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