How does one refinish (stain) old wood dining room chairs?

Question

I have 40 year old dining room chairs that were finished in a antique greenish white (UGLY). I want to restain them in a natural looking wood finish. Do I need to strip the old finish? Do I need to apply a base? HELP!!!!! Thanks much.

Answer 1

There are "strippers" that will eat the old paint & finishes off. But I can't speak from experience on how to do it...

You may find the answers here:

www.diynetwork.com (Do It Yourself Network)

or here:

www.about.com

You might, too, find the information online at:

www.homedepot.com
www.lowes.com

Too, these places (Home Depot and Lowe's) have books and magazines, plus employees that always seem knowledgeable. (Many other mags on the market, too.)

That's a direction - if no one in Answers can help...

:)

Answer 2

First is the old green, paint or stain. If it is paint your chances for staining the chairs is better. Paint sets on the wood where stain soaks in much deeper. My sugestion is to hit the antique stores in your area and ask if they have a list of people who strip furniture. Ask also if they have ever tried the people they recomend and their oppinion or they may even have furniture that you could look at to see the kind of job that was done.That is going to be your best choice.

You can do them yourself but if you have never done this before you are looking at a lot of work. It's messy and depending on how many layers of paint are on the chairs or stain, you'll be spending a lot of time because it doesn't come off very easy. Even the newer products that say easy to use, no smell, no mess etc. I wouldn't try it. They don't work that well and the ones that do are so strong you could pass out from the smell. You need very thick rubber gloves (because it will eat through the gloves) lots of news paper, wire brushes, putty knife, rags, steel wool (these are all used to help get the paint off) and lots of time. Also if you splash these products on your skin, even the smallest amounts, they burn. And I have even gotten in my eyes before. I have done a lot of furniture and I wont do chairs. Especially when there are a lot of spindels. It's much easier to take the chairs to someone else because they are set up all the time and the best way of getting the job done. Some of them even have the tanks that they actually can dip the furniture in ans soak the old finishes off. It can be a little pricy depending on how difficult the job can be, but it is all worth it in the end because they have a way of getting the furniture much cleaner then doing it yourself.

Then if your up for restainning them yourself go to any paint or do it yourself (Home Depot) store and choose the products you need. There should be someone who can help you pick the things you need. Paint, stain, brushes, sponges, a top coat product to go over the chairs if you stain them. But some of the people who strip furniture also refinish as well. Good luck...

Answer 3

i dont know