Old rocking chair
by
Traceycater
+36
My husband found this old rocker and I am trying to sand by hand to refinish it. It is so heavy in whatever someone put on it that I'm having a hard time getting into the pieces that are trim. Can anyone help me with how to get into these parts? I don't see where it can be taken apart, it only has pin nail marks in a few places. I have used a stripper and it doesn't work on the intricate spots. Any advice? Anyone have any ideas of what to do with it once I can get all the old finish off? Paint, varnish, or natural? I can't even tell what kind of wood it is. Thanks everyone!
This is how it looked at first.
I did get the seat cleaned, now I need to finish the trim.
26 answers
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What about a gel remover like this?http://www.dumondchemicals.com/home-peel-away-smart-strip.html
Donna Arsenault
on Jul 03, 2014
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Or thishttp://www.2littlesuperheroes.com/2013/04/stripping-painted-furniture.html/
Donna Arsenault
on Jul 03, 2014
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She's right! The gel would be best to use and when it loosens the old finish, try using an old toothbrush, or even a length of jute to get into those tight places that are difficult and round. Sort of like flossing with the jute, since it's rough, it works!
Melissa Dawn Terrel
on Jul 03, 2014
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Most hardware stores have some type of gel paint and varnish remover. Put it on with an old brush. Cover with a big garbage bag and let sit overnight or even 24 hours for some products. An old brush like a tooth brush or strips of wet fine sandpaper to dig in the grooves. I have a soft wire brush that I use too. Never thought about jute..going to try that next time.
Donna Arsenault
on Jul 03, 2014
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Use Acetone! Its cheaper than the traditional strippers and works great!
Dyana Elkins
on Jul 03, 2014
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Also if you go to a woodcarvers website they have special sanding tools (inexpensive) that can help you get to the details.
Chantelle Joy
on Jul 03, 2014
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My aunt used Klean Kutter stripper. Don't know if it was a gel or not. Acetone is runny, so the cost will even out. Good luck with your piece! Are you going to use chalk paint to repaint and wax it, or a gel wiping stain and polyacrylic to seal it? Pretty old rocker.
Vicki K
on Jul 03, 2014
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Yes, please post a photo when it's all done I want to see the beautiful results of your hard work!
Melissa Dawn Terrel
on Jul 03, 2014
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If you are going to use chalk paint, you do not need to remove the old finish. Just paint!
Michaele
on Jul 03, 2014
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I use oven cleaner to remove old finishes
Carol G
on Jul 04, 2014
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I once had a Jenny Lynn bed that had lots of grooves that had paint of various colors stuck in them...I used a "pick" from a nut cracking set to pick it out. Slow, but worth it. If you use a dark stain, you won't have to worry too much about getting all the color out...just use some sandpaper to rough it up. Here is a picture of a chair I am working on...I have the stain and first varnish on it. Had to stop for a while to do yard work. I use rub on stain AND gel varnish. Be sure and post finished product!
Jeanette S
on Jul 04, 2014
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wow, we're doing the same kind of project! I don't think I want to stain the rocker, I like the beauty of natural wood. I am thinking about stencils, but again I have worked so hard on this that I think I am going to just varnish it clear! I like the idea of using the nut cracker pick. I will post the finished project for sure, everyone is waiting to see it as much as I am waiting for it to be done!
Traceycater
on Jul 04, 2014
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I've used Waterlox (http://www.waterlox.com) on stripped wood pieces. Just gives it a natural, soft patina. Amazing stuff and so easy to use!
Cyndie S
on Jul 04, 2014
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I am taking time off from the chair, although I really want to finish it!!! We've had and are having a busy Holiday week-end. Hope everyone is also! I am also starting a new job on Monday, 6 days a week for the next 5 weeks, it will be a huge challenge, I haven't worked in almost 5yrs! Wish me luck!! I will keep posting as soon as I get back to working on the chair! :(
Traceycater
on Jul 05, 2014
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Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas.
Traceycater
on Jul 10, 2014
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Have you tried brushes? Old tooth brushes go places fingers don't or brass brush to loosen the paint. Any kind of brush that fits in the area works like the round wire brushes found in the tool departments. You dip the brush in stripper and go for it. Have you looked at the woodcrafter.com web site? They have wonderful wood products. Not cheap but it may give you ideas, wonderful quality and looking is free. :)
Kathey
on Jul 11, 2014
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Still don't know what "jute" is? Any answers?
Traceycater
on Jul 31, 2014
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Jute is a coarse woven fabric, coarser than burlap but similar. Jute strips from rolls is rolled across chair and sofa seats and stapled, before the springs and padding and fabric are applied. Lots of fuzz with jute and burlap - a lot of people are allergic to it. At the end of upholstering, they staple a black sheet of (pellon?) over the bottom to cover up the jute hairs from shedding. Hope this helps. I think you can also get balls of string jute for macrame, at least we could in the 1970's when macrame was popular. I have some dyed brown jute rope for macrame, altho its natural color is dark beige.
Vicki K
on Aug 02, 2014
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I see Kathy beat me to it. I also was going to say I use brushes with my stripper in small areas that are hard to reach. Makes it so much easier. When I did my Kitchen cabinets, a fairly hard scrub brush made it so much quicker and easier. And instead of using jute I found the stripping for the toping for custom made draperies. It works great and doesn't have all the fuzz and stringy stuff. Staple it on just like you would the jute strips.
Judy
on Aug 13, 2014
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Thank, now if I could get back to wanting to do the rocker again, I may get it done. I have lost interest in it and am trying to push myself to get it done!
Traceycater
on Aug 14, 2014
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It's a beast, so take a break with your new job and do some other fun stuff away from the rocker for awhile. It will move you again sooner or later. It isn't going anywhere. Take care of your-self. We can get too wound up sometimes with our projects and kids and house and family and work. Take a break.
Vicki K
on Aug 14, 2014
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I'm looking forward to see it - lots of great ideas shared here.
Starr Durrant
on Sep 23, 2014
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I know you want to save the look of the wood but you might think about chalk paint. It is a beautiful chair don't give up.
Kathleen
on Jan 10, 2015
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I tried almost all the ideas that I was given, thank-you for all the replies, however, due to recent back surgery, I haven't been able to do anything but look at it and wonder if I even want to keep it any more! However, husband says, we are keeping it! I need to work on the pesky areas that have caused me to stop prior. My son used it as his chair this past Christmas for his "Santa" pictures at work. It worked great, they decorated it perfectly and if anything he says he would take it just so it can use it every Christmas! But like I said, husband wants to keep it and find some way to get all the "gunk" for those hard to reach areas and we will most likely leave it the original wood color as it is so pretty! I will post it when we "finally" get it done! Like I said, I just had surgery, so it will be awhile until I can spend time bending, twisting and cussing ;) at this beautiful find! Thanks again everyone!
Traceycater
on Jan 29, 2015
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The looks exactly like the one I found at a thrift store. I have had it for about 4 years and just now getting around to refinishing it. On the back of the chair behind the arm rests I found a wooden plug. Once I pried the plug out, It revealed a wood screw underneath. remove the screw on each side. This should remove the arms, and if the wood glue was not used in abundance the spindles should come right off of the seat. The backrest should then lift off the seat with little effort. I am using a lacquer/varnish remover called KLEEN STRIP. You brush it on and swirl it around in circles and it has been pretty easy to remove the old finish with no scraping. Just wipe it with a clean rag and thinner after loosening the finish. This has been great for the grooves in the spindles and tight areas to reach. My chair is Oak except for the seat which is thick pine. I have read this was not uncommon to do when the chair was to be finished in a dark color or painted. The Kleen Strip did not remove the stain only finish. I have yet to decide if I want to sand it and stain it a lighter color or just use coats of lacquer and rub it down with linseed oil between coats. Hope this helps.
Marcus Steven Knuth
on Jul 14, 2015
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I have this rocker if u want to see what it is supposed to look like i can let u know
Lynn
on Sep 21, 2015
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