How to Stain and Finish Wood Furniture | This Old House

Wood finishing expert Bruce Johnson shares tips for refinishing new and old furniture. See below for a shopping list and tools.

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Up in the loft, Kevin was joined by Bruce Johnson, a wood finishing expert. Bruce showed Kevin how to prepare new, unfinished furniture by sanding it with sandpaper and cleaning the dust off using a tack cloth. He then showed how to apply "wood conditioner," which helps wood absorb stain more evenly. Once it was dry, Bruce applied an oil-based penetrating stain using a soft cloth and wiped off the excess. Next, he showed how to apply polyurethane, which leaves a clear protective coating. Bruce also showed how to clean old furniture using a readily-available "wood cleaner" and he showed how to completely remove old finishes by using an "antique furniture refinisher," which is a blend of solvents that dissolves several types of old finishes.

Shopping List for How to Stain and Finish Wood Furniture:
150-grit sandpaper, to remove nicks, scratches, and to open up the wood grain
tack cloth, used to wipe off sanding dust
wood conditioner, used to prep bare wood prior to staining
oil-based wood stain, used to color bare wood surfaces
clean cotton cloths, used to wipe on finishes
commercial wood cleaner, used to clean old, dirty finishes
antique wood refinisher, for stripping off old finishes

Tools for How to Stain and Finish Wood Furniture:
paintbrushes, for applying polyurethane
rubber gloves, used to keep hands clean

Bruce Johnson, furniture finishing expert [blog.minwax.com/about-bruce-johnson/] showed Kevin how to use wood conditioner, penetrating stain, polyurethane, wood cleaner, and antique furniture refinisher manufactured by Minwax® [www.minwax.com/] to finish both old and new furniture pieces.

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How to Stain and Finish Wood Furniture | This Old House
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