The next day I felt very inspired and eager to finish the table. I shook the can of sealant (which it said NOT to do). I should have grabbed a stir stick from Home Depot. I started on the inside of a leg and I applied it with a clean paintbrush. I was a bit nervous when I saw it turn white with a bunch of tiny bubbles. It especially looked worse every time I brushed another stroke in the same spot. But after about 5 mins it turned clear so I finished the entire table. I was on a roll so I grabbed an old frame I had purchased the day before at a garage sale for $.75 and painted it a vibrant red. The same red that I decided needed to be on the old serving table I’d picked up on the side of the road years back. So I pulled out the tarp and went to town. An ugly, old green chair and smaller frame got the metal/rust spray-paint finish. I waited a good few days before setting anything on either table. I should have waited longer on the red table, I set a few things back on it 2 days later and it removed the paint in those spots. As for my dining table, in less than a week it’s held up to a few gatherings and wine spills. As a wise man once said, "It is finished."
Moral of the story: Take your time searching for a good deal. You can refinish anything. Read the directions. Give things enough time to dry. Don’t ever tell a girl that she can’t help you fix something.
What you’ll need:
Tarp/Newspaper
Sand paper # 120 (the heavy stuff)
Sand paper # 220 (to smooth it out)
Sanding block
Stain of your choice
Staining Cloth/Sponge
Bowl or Paint tray
Sealant/Urethane (depending on inside/outside)
Disposable Gloves
Paint Brush
Stir stick
Mask
- Plan your project to be in an open, ventilated, dry area and lay down your tarp or newspaper.
- Start with the heavier sand paper, using long strokes and going WITH THE GRAIN, followed by the smoother sand paper to finish it off. Wipe off all remaining dust using a clean, dry cloth (I also used a hairdryer to get into the crevasses).
- Pour just a bit of the stain into the bowl/tray (a little goes a very long way) Dip in the staining cloth and apply IN THE DIRECTION of the grain. Let sit 5 mins and repeat for a darker stain. Remove any excess stain with dry cloth.
- Allow drying for a minimum of 8 hrs.
- DO NOT shake sealant. Pour sealant into clean bowl/tray and apply with paintbrush, avoiding going over the same area too many times. (Will appear as a milky color but this will completely dry clear. Repeat if necessary (especially for outside furniture, may need up to 4 coats)
- Allow drying an additional 24+ hours before using the furniture again.
Table $20, Frame $.75, Green Chair $0, Wood Chairs $25, Serving table $0, Supplies $36 Total Cost = $81.75
umm....this is AMAZING!!!! xoxoxoxo
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