3 Errors of Wood Refinishing

One of the most common pitfalls of refinishing wooden furniture is not adhering to the instructions.

Regardless of the professional experience your service provider may have, it’s important to run over the steps once before starting. It’s essential because the chemical composition of a new refinishing product may be slightly different. Your refinishers may need to understand the requirements before starting.

All potential errors can be carefully avoided by reading the instructions printed on the label. Make sure you choose the right wood refinishing service to ensure that your wood suffers none of these blunders.

Not Removing the Old Finish

Before breaking the seal on the new finishing product, you need to remove the old finish first. This is the most demanding step in the process because it requires both, time and effort. If you wish to skip this process, you can also use a chemical stripper to remove the old finish.

All you need to do is apply a generous coating of it on the furniture piece and wait. Parts of the finish that are still there will show as patchy stains and become easier to identify and remove.

Waiting For the Chemical Stripper to Set

Once you’ve applied the chemical stripper, you need to wait for it to set before you can pull off the old finish. Be vigilant while timing yourself because anything shorter or longer than the prescribed duration can affect the results.

If you pull it before the chemical stripper has set in, you’ll have to scrape off the old finish. Scraping off the old finish is the worst thing you can do to your wooden furniture. Not only does it dent and scratch the surface but it also makes it harder to repair the damage. And if you delay the process for too long, the chemical layer will harden and become difficult to remove.

Sanding in the Wrong Direction

Once the first—and the hardest part of the process—is complete, you need to move on to sanding. This will remove any problematic spots or bumps on the surface. A common mistake that amateurs often make is to sand against the direction of the grain.

You need to sand in the direction of the grain because otherwise you’ll damage the integrity of the material. Sanding can affect the final results because a poor job will highlight the dents and damaged patches even more.

If you’re looking for high-quality woof refinishing, On Site Wood Wizard offers the best furniture restoration and refinishing services in Martinez, CA. Call them at 925-370-1489 for details!