How to restore wooden furniture?

Question

Hi team,

I want to restore two wooden chairs and one couch. The wood is in great condition; however, the varnish is dated and has to be removed.

What is the best way to remove the varnish and feed the wood afterwards? Can you please recommend the items I should get/use?

Should I add new varnish afterwards or stick to oiling the wood? If so, which oil is best to use, please?

Thanks,

Nicolette

EricL · Answer

Hello @NleRoux

What an excellent project to be undertaking. Restoring the timber chairs to a fresh new finish is generally straight forward. The body of the chairs must be sanded back to timber, and all of the old stain and varnish must be totally removed. This can be done using a detail electric sander and standard sheets of sandpaper.

However, there are some parts that will require special attention. The weaved section of the back of the chair must be sanded carefully in order to remove the stain on its surface. It would be easier to remove the surface stain rather than replacing the entire weave of the chair. The weaved section can be sourced from rattan webbing supply stores.

The second section is the upholstery, removing the current cover with flat head screwdrivers and side cutters can be done step-by-step. Re-fitting the upholstery to its original configuration will be the challenge. If you've done some D.I.Y upholstery before then it's something that you can have a go at. However, if you are after a professional finish then having it professionally re-upholstered is also an option.

In regards to the finish, I suggest visiting your local store and having a look at the stain and varnish sample board in the paint department. There you'll see the actual finish of the stain applied to sample boards. You can then choose a finish that suits your needs. My best advice is to test a small hidden section of the chair to make sure that you are satisfied with the stain finish. If the stain is acceptable, you can then commit the entire chair.

Here are some handy discussions that will help:

* How to restore this dressing table? by @suha 
* Timber chairs upcycle by @pepsp 
* How to restore a wooden armchair by @Nham 
* How to restore wooden antique bedroom furniture? by @skms112 
* How to restore wooden furniture? by @ee

Here is a handy step-by-step guide: How To Restore Furniture

Please remember to wear personal protection such as gloves, goggles and mask when working on your project.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric