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Halloween Costumes
    For Kids
    Oogie Boogie Halloween Costume
    Gizmo the Mogwai Gremlins Toddler Halloween Costume
    Audrey 2 Little Shop of Horrors Kid’s Halloween Costume
    Jack Skellington Face Mask
    DIY Jack Skellington Kids Costume
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    Zero Dog Halloween Costume
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    How to Clean Dryer Vents Yourself
    How to Remove Rust Stains from Porcelain Sink or Tub
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    Mediterranean Greek Chicken Salad with Lemon Citrus Vinaigrette
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    Garlic White Wine Seafood Pasta
    Canning Tomatoes for Beginners – Quick and Easy!
    Homemade Italian Pasta Sauce
    Butter Garlic Mushroom Quinoa
    Hearty Lentils and Rice
    DIY Small Holiday Dinner Ideas: Perfectly Roasted Chicken in 40 minutes.
    Honey Roasted Acorn Squash
    Dessert
    Bourbon Flambéed Summer Peaches with Homemade Ricotta, Toasted Pecans & Honey Recipe
Beauty
    DIY Acrylic Nails Alternative – Quick and Easy At Home Manicure
    DIY Festive Holiday Manicure
    DIY Remedies for Splitting Nails Gel Strip Solutions
The DIY Handy Mom - DIY Projects and Homemade Costumes, Crafts, and Food!
  • Meet the DIY Handy Mom
  • Halloween Costumes
    • For Kids
      • Oogie Boogie Halloween Costume
      • Gizmo the Mogwai Gremlins Toddler Halloween Costume
      • Audrey 2 Little Shop of Horrors Kid’s Halloween Costume
      • Jack Skellington Face Mask
      • DIY Jack Skellington Kids Costume
    • For Dogs
      • Zero Dog Halloween Costume
  • How-To
    • How to Clean Dryer Vents Yourself
    • How to Remove Rust Stains from Porcelain Sink or Tub
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      • Warm Quick Oats Recipe with Summer Berries Toasted Pecans & Maple Syrup
    • Lunch
      • Mediterranean Greek Chicken Salad with Lemon Citrus Vinaigrette
    • Dinner
      • Garlic White Wine Seafood Pasta
      • Canning Tomatoes for Beginners – Quick and Easy!
      • Homemade Italian Pasta Sauce
      • Butter Garlic Mushroom Quinoa
      • Hearty Lentils and Rice
      • DIY Small Holiday Dinner Ideas: Perfectly Roasted Chicken in 40 minutes.
      • Honey Roasted Acorn Squash
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      • Bourbon Flambéed Summer Peaches with Homemade Ricotta, Toasted Pecans & Honey Recipe
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Home Improvement How-To

Refinish Old Furniture

February 10, 2021 No Comments
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One of my favorite things to do is refinish old furniture. A lot of things I’ve bought in the past were from consignment stores and were decent quality but over time became out dated. This particular desk I found when we were out on a family walk during trash day. Yes, I am not above trash picking!  Especially when it’s an Ethan Allen writing desk that’s probably around $2,000. This is seriously one of my greatest finds. It had a little bit of wear in the front from where a chair or something seemed to be rubbing but other than than it was in great shape! I couldn’t believe our neighbors were throwing it out!

I forgot to take a picture of the condition it was in when I first found it, but here’s a photo after my first pass at sanding it.

  1. The first thing I like to do is use some liquid sandpaper or de-glosser just to take the clear finish off especially in those nooks and crannies where you can’t get to it well with sandpaper or a sander. I let it sit for a while to really penetrate the finish and then wipe it off with a damp rag.
  2. Next, I use my orbital sander to go over the flat surfaces. I start with some 80 grit sandpaper and move to 220 grit sandpaper to create a smooth finish. I don’t ever use the orbital sander on any edges or places that have detail. It will make marks and deform the shape of the wood. I hand sand all of those areas. You can fold the sandpaper and run it in the creases. This part requires a ton of elbow grease but is an important step in having your new finish adhere properly.

 

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Written by: Steph
  • Meet the DIY Handy Mom
  • Halloween Costumes
    • For Kids
      • Oogie Boogie Halloween Costume
      • Gizmo the Mogwai Gremlins Toddler Halloween Costume
      • Audrey 2 Little Shop of Horrors Kid’s Halloween Costume
      • Jack Skellington Face Mask
      • DIY Jack Skellington Kids Costume
    • For Dogs
      • Zero Dog Halloween Costume
  • How-To
    • How to Clean Dryer Vents Yourself
    • How to Remove Rust Stains from Porcelain Sink or Tub
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
      • Warm Quick Oats Recipe with Summer Berries Toasted Pecans & Maple Syrup
    • Lunch
      • Mediterranean Greek Chicken Salad with Lemon Citrus Vinaigrette
    • Dinner
      • Garlic White Wine Seafood Pasta
      • Canning Tomatoes for Beginners – Quick and Easy!
      • Homemade Italian Pasta Sauce
      • Butter Garlic Mushroom Quinoa
      • Hearty Lentils and Rice
      • DIY Small Holiday Dinner Ideas: Perfectly Roasted Chicken in 40 minutes.
      • Honey Roasted Acorn Squash
    • Dessert
      • Bourbon Flambéed Summer Peaches with Homemade Ricotta, Toasted Pecans & Honey Recipe
  • Beauty
    • DIY Acrylic Nails Alternative – Quick and Easy At Home Manicure
    • DIY Festive Holiday Manicure
    • DIY Remedies for Splitting Nails Gel Strip Solutions
How to Remove Rust Stains from Porcelain Sink or Tub

How to Remove Rust Stains from Porcelain Sink or Tub

August 24, 2015
How to Clean Dryer Vents Yourself

How to Clean Dryer Vents Yourself

Oogie Boogie Halloween Costume

Oogie Boogie Halloween Costume

September 17, 2018
Gizmo the Mogwai Gremlins Toddler Halloween Costume

Gizmo the Mogwai Gremlins Toddler Halloween Costume

September 12, 2020
Bourbon Flambéed Summer Peaches with Homemade Ricotta, Toasted Pecans & Honey Recipe

Bourbon Flambéed Summer Peaches with Homemade Ricotta, Toasted Pecans & Honey Recipe

October 2, 2020

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