Start here
How to Restore Old Furniture: A Beginner's Guide
A beginner's guide to restoring old wood furniture: assess, clean, repair joints, then decide whether to strip, sand, stain or protect the finish.
Restoring and Refinishing
Restoration Basics
Where to start: cleaning, sanding grits, stripping varnish, restaining and the tools you need.
Can I just sand varnished wood?
Yes, you can sand varnish off flat solid wood, but carvings, turnings and veneer need different care. Here's the grit sequence and when to strip instead.
Common Furniture Refinishing Problems and How to Avoid Them
Learn the most common furniture refinishing problems, such as fisheyes, blotching, blushing, swirl marks and bubbles, and how to prevent each one.
How much does it cost to restore furniture?
Rough US price ranges for restoring furniture, what drives the cost up, DIY supply costs, and how to get written quotes that are worth comparing.
How to Clean Old Wood Furniture Before Refinishing
Clean old wood furniture before refinishing: dust, mild soap, mineral spirits for wax and silicone, and full drying. Covers woodworm checks and what to avoid.
How to repair damaged wood finish?
Repair damaged wood finish by first deciding whether the damage is in the finish or the wood. Covers scratches, water rings, dents and gouges.
How to Restain Wood Furniture Without Stripping
Restain wood furniture without stripping using a surface-film product. Learn what it can change, how to prep the finish, and when to strip instead.
How to restore mango wood furniture?
Restore mango wood furniture by identifying the finish first, then cleaning, oiling or waxing, or sanding with care. Covers water marks and outdoor limits.
How to Restore Rimu Furniture
Restore rimu furniture, a New Zealand native timber: identify the finish, revive shellac, handle dark stain and keep the patina with light sanding.
How to Strip Varnish from Wood Furniture Safely
Strip varnish from wood furniture safely: choose a lower-risk stripper, protect yourself and the wood, scrape with the grain, and dispose of waste properly.
How to Tell Solid Wood from Veneer Furniture
Tell solid wood from veneer and laminate by checking edges, end grain and the underside, plus weight and damage. Learn why it matters before you sand.
Oak Furniture Restoration Tips
Oak furniture restoration tips: tell red and white oak apart, clean out open pores, fix iron stains, sand to 150 to 180 and avoid common finishing mistakes.
The Benefits of Repairing Old Furniture Instead of Replacing It
Repairing old furniture often costs less and keeps solid wood in use. Here are the real benefits, the limits, and when replacing a piece makes more sense.
What do the Amish use to finish furniture?
There is no single Amish finish. Many commercial shops spray conversion varnish, while others use oil or oil-varnish blends. Here's what shops commonly use.
What Grit Sandpaper to Use on Wood Furniture
Choose sandpaper grit for wood furniture by job: coarse for removal, 180 to 220 before stain, 320 to 400 between coats. Includes grit labels and paper types.
What Tools You Need to Refinish Furniture
Refinishing tools for beginners: a small starter kit of scrapers, sandpaper, brushes and safety gear covers most jobs. Here's what to buy and what to skip.
Related topics