Restoring chest of drawers, cabinet and cane chair

Hi all

I have 3 pieces of furniture that - admittedly - I have been hoarding for some time and never got round to sprucing up - the time is now!

I have attached pics - excuse the mess/ background, they are currently in the garage as we have just moved house.
I will post better pics when I start the project 😉

I have read through quite a few articles here on best methods to give them a second life.
My understanding is it's going to be best to sand vs using paint stripper?
Do you recommend getting powered sanders or would good old elbow grease do the job? Which sanders would be best? Would a detail sander do the job?
None of the pieces have serious damage so it's really just stripping back to original wood and varnish.

Just want to confirm with the community that I am on the right track, and also seeking recommendations/ links to the right products required.

I know that in between all the steps I list below, I should be cleaning with damp cloth to remove residue and dust etc.

Cane chair:
Appears in reasonable nick. It is going onto the balcony so will be outdoors permanently
1. Clean with sugar soap/ wipes
2. Does it need sanding?
3. Re-varnish - can someone please recommend the right product to withstand outdoor conditions?

Chest of drawers:
1. Remove knobs (I will be replacing them)
2. Clean with sugar soap/ wipes
3. Sand back to remove old varnish - I did a test patch and doesn't look like it will be too difficult
4. I would like to keep the natural wood look - please recommend stain/ varnish/ finish?
5. Seeking recommendations for replacing/ updating the tracks for the drawers - see pic

Cabinet:
Previously stored on outdoor patio, it was under cover but we'd had alot of rain at times so it is a bit weathered.
Doesn't appear to have any serious water damage except for back board that needs replacing
When I first got it, I slapped on some chalk paint to liven it up a bit, will be removing this as I'd like the cabinet to go back to natural wood tone.
I think it's solid wood? How would I know if it is plywood or not?

1. Clean with sugar soap/ wipes
2. Sand back to remove old varnish - I did a test patch (seen top right corner) and doesn't look like it will be too difficult. This cabinet was previously stored on outdoor patio so there would be some water damage, but it looks like nothing serious and actually looks like this will make it easier to remove the old varnish.
3. My only concern is that the door panels seem very thin, so what recommendations do you have for not cracking or breaking it while sanding? Is sanding them advised?
3. I would like to keep the natural wood look - please recommend stain/ varnish/ finish?

Thanks in advance!

I will post more pics of before, during and after. I am so excited and looking forward to getting stuck in! 😃

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EricL

Hello @Ren_B

It's great that you've found the opportunity to start these fantastic upcycle projects. Let's start with the cane furniture, I suggest using a 240grit sandpaper and hand sanding the entire unit. If the cane furniture is old enough the polyurethane seal on it should come off easily. I don't recommend using a detail sander on this unit as the vibrations might loosen its bindings and fittings.

Give the cane furniture a proper wipe down, I then suggest using the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner and vacuum the entire chair. Once the chair is free of dust, I recommend having a look at the Bondall 1L Satin Monocel Gold Marine Clear Timber Varnish. It is formulated to withstand harsh weather and is UV resistant. It leaves a clear finish, but I recommend testing a small area at the back to give you an idea of what the finish looks like. If you are happy with the with finish you can then commit the whole chair.

Next is the chest of drawers, I recommend using a detail sander on this to reduce your sanding time. However, leave one of the drawer fronts only half sanded and the other side still varnished with the old sealer. Bring this drawer to the paint section of the store and speak to the senior paint specialist and see if you can find a compatible stain and varnish to your old finish.

I'm just letting you know now that it will be impossible to get the same finish due to the age of the old varnish. Plus, it has been exposed to the weather and thereby causing the old varnish sealer finish to fade. I suggest having a look at the varnish sample finishing board at the store. You'll find plenty of paint samples to choose from.

In regards to the drawer runners, I recommend putting bees wax on the timber guide and the bottom of the drawer slide. Leave the bees wax to dry off before putting the drawers back in. If the handles are still in reasonably good condition, I suggest painting the old handles black and re-attaching them.

If the timber was just a veneer or a vinyl cover covered surface, the sanding dust would be plastic and not wood. The veneer would split open revealing the cheap MDF board underneath. To test the strength of the cabinet panels, squeeze with your pointing finger and your thumb. If it gets crushed too easily, the wood material is probably made from semi compressed particle board.

The last of course is the 2-door cabinet, I suggest removing the doors and putting them on a table when sanding its surface. Again, I recommend going to the varnish sample board at the store to choose a finish that you like.

Please keep us updated with your progress, we look forward to seeing all three appliances re-vamped and ready for use.

If you have any other questions, please let us know.

Eric

Ren_B

Eric, thanks so much for the detailed response and answering my questions!

I don't want to stain the drawers and cabinet the same colour (I HATE the orange 😃) - but will take your advice and have a look at sample boards in store to select the colour I want. I'll sand back first to see what I am left with then take it from there.

Ren

MitchellMc

Keep us updated, @Ren_B, and please reach out again when you have further questions or would like to update us on your progress.

Mitchell

MitchellMc

Hi again @Ren_B,

I thought I'd jump back into the discussion with some useful links.

There's been a few previous discussions on restoring cane furniture:

How to restore salvaged wicker/cane/bamboo/rattan furniture by @ME_1

How to restore outdoor cane furniture by @stellapash

How to paint cane furniture by @Diy_Shell

We also have a Best Advice article on How do you restore cane furniture?

For your other furniture, I'd recommend you check out this article on How to upcycle a bedside cabinet. It covers most of the aspects of your project, and I think you'll find it quite useful.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Ren_B

Hi All

Thought I would update you on how it is going so far!

I decided to start with the cabinet and chest of drawers, get the hardest ones out the way first!

Day 1, cabinet:
Removed doors and all hardware.
3 hours of hand sanding with a Rocket mouse sander, 80 and 120 grit....needless to say this was taking far too long so decided to try borrow rotary and detail sanders from some lovely neighbours for the next day's work.

Day 2, cabinet and chest of drawers:
A good 6 hours with the power sanders 😩
To be honest I did not expect it to take that long with the power tools!
On both pieces the top layers of old varnish we nearly impossible to break through!!
Started with 50 and 60 grit sheets on both types of sanders, and I wore out 5 of each just to break through the top layers of varnish 😫
But I got there in the end.
Finished off with hand sanding with the Rocket mouse @ 180 and 240 grit.

The difference is remarkable! And exactly what I had hoped for 😁
How beautiful is that wood grain 😍

For this cabinet, there is some dark stains/ water damage on top, I don't really mind it too much - adds character! - however do you have any advice for removing them or maybe even just getting them to a less obvious state?
Assuming they will be more prominent once varnish is applied? If not, I may not worry about it further.
Besides, this cabinet will have stuff on top of it permanently so it won't be too visible.

Because struggled so much with the old varnish, I ended up having to angle the rotary sander forward slightly in order to get rid of the layers.
Although this worked, I have ended up with some little marks in the wood. You can't feel them, but visible when looking closely.
What is the recommendation here?
Sand again from low to high grit?
Will it be more prominent once varnished?

Varnish:
This is the one I bought - can you confirm this will somewhat retain the existing colour? I love the colours as they are!
However now I am questioning whether I should exchange it for the matt finish...I chose satin based on the samples on display

https://www.bunnings.com.au/cabot-s-500ml-satin-water-based-cabothane-clear-polyurethane-timber-varnish_p1522368

Now, I haven't even attempted the cabinet doors and drawers.....considering how hard it was to break through the old varnish......

I am thinking to go for paint stripper - thoughts/ comments?

Lastly:
I had finished both pieces with 240 grit sandpaper and the surfaces were suuuper smooth.
Vacuumed up remaining dust then wiped down with slightly damp microfiber cloth.
It feels like the fibres have expanded again so the surfaces are not as smooth as before the damp cloth.

Before varnishing, do I sand with 240 grit once more and just wipe down with a dry cloth to remove dust?
I understand to sand between coats for the same reason that the fibers will absorb the moisture and expand again.

Thank you!

EricL

Hello @Ren_B

Thank you so much for the update on your upcycling project. Unfortunately, the dark stains you're seeing on your cabinet are old water stains that have been painted over. I understand the difficulty in removing the old sealers, if the manufacturer used a superior product, it often lasts very long and provides excellent protection.

I suggest trying a traditional wood working technique, grab some paper towels and put some white vinegar on them. Make sure they are damp but not soaking, rub this over the dark spots and see if you can lift the stain out. Test a small area first to see if it works. Wipe off the vinegar with paper towels that have been dipped in water. Remember, make sure they are damp and not soaking wet.

If the vinegar does not work, I'm afraid your only option is to sand out the dark areas. Make sure the area is totally dry before you begin sanding again.

In regards to your cabinet with the sanding marks, this is a phenomenon caused by the leading edge of the sander. Look carefully at your sander and run your hand over the side and surface without the sandpaper on. If you notice a sharp edge protruding from the outer edge of the sander odds are the sanding surface is damaged. You can still use the tool; you just need to be aware that using this particular corner of the tool will leave lines.

To repair the damage, I suggest using your manual sanding pad with a 180grit sandpaper. When the lines have faded you can finish it off with a 240grit. Remember to sand this area in a vertical motion only, don't be tempted to go against the grain or move in a circular fashion.

You mentioned that you feel timber hair fibres on the smooth finish. In order to reach that ultra smooth finish, I suggest using 320grit to give you an even better finish.

Using varnish stripper should save you some time, just keep in mind that you'll still need to sand the surface to remove the residual stains left behind. It is a messy process and will stain anything that is not protected including your painted garage floor. Please make sure to use cardboard underneath and a dropsheet with plastic backing to prevent damaging your garage and driveway.

I recommend using a UNi-PRO 18 x 36" Painters Tack Cloth for that final wipe down.

I propose testing the Cabots on a small area of your cabinet so that you can see how it will react to the timber. If you are happy with the results, you can then commit the entire cabinet.

Please don't forget to wear your safety equipment such as gloves, goggles and dust mask while working on your cabinets.

Please keep us updated with your progress, we look forward to seeing your furniture freshly painted.

Eric

Ren_B

@EricL thanks so much for the detailed response and tips - I'll be sure to follow those and keep you guys updated!

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