Refinishing Your Own Furniture

Like many of us, I am not the best woodworker. However, I still like the idea of making my own furniture. I just do have the finances to outfit a home workshop like the ones you see on television. I can, however, apply stains and finishes. Staining and Finishing only requires some basic tools and experience. Plus, if I totally mess up a piece of furniture when finishing it, all I have to do is to remove the finish and start all over again. Some of the basic tools you'll need are: sandpaper in various grits, some good paintbrushes, rags, and a ton of patience. If you have an electric sander, that speeds up the sanding process but isn't required. I use a small orbital sander that both vibrates and swirls for a smooth finish. In my town, there are a couple of stores that sell furniture for just these types of projects. They are usually called "unfinished furniture" or "raw furniture" stores. They typically have a good selection of furniture in pine, oak, and other species of wood. You'll usually find a good selection of furniture ranging from simple bookcases, armoires, coffee tables, all the way up to complete dining room sets. With a raw or unfinished piece of furniture, one of the toughest decisions is how to finish it. Again, you will have several choices. You could simply paint it a color to match your d