How do I preserve this woodgrain/paint look?

Allison Smith
by Allison Smith
I sanded over the black chalkboard paint on a dresser, and something really cool happened when I cleaned off the dust with mineral spirits. How do I preserve this splotchy woodgrain /paint look? I don't know what finish to use. The paint is black chalkboard paint, and the wood grain is just the original stained veneer (it's a depression era dresser). Any ideas on how to preserve this look? Pics are before and after mineral spirits dried.
Before mineral spirits
Wet mineral spirits
  14 answers
  • Z Z on Sep 01, 2015
    You best bet would be with a satin finish polyurethane.
  • Claudia Claudia on Sep 02, 2015
    I would just seal it with clear wax for a velvety look
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Sep 02, 2015
    there is a product called minwax.Most home improvement stores carries this.It has all yhe necessary steps you need to prolong your finish.
  • Che1451078 Che1451078 on Sep 02, 2015
    I agree with all these answers. (I've used them all) it becomes just your preference I think. I would use the satin polyurethane also, as Becky mentioned. It comes in a spray as well. Of course it would depend on the ventilation! Good luck!
  • Che1451078 Che1451078 on Sep 02, 2015
    I agree with all these answers. (I've used them all) it becomes just your preference I think. I would use the satin polyurethane also, as Becky mentioned. It comes in a spray as well. Of course it would depend on the ventilation! Good luck!
  • Lee Lee on Sep 02, 2015
    I have used all the above suggestions with success! also I have liked to use a car wax with carnauba! when a few coats are applied, and polished, this finish has lasted for years and years. Hope you will post your decision and finished project….
  • Lagree Wyndham Lagree Wyndham on Sep 02, 2015
    I like tung oil..to me it makes piece look more "wet"
  • Brenda Neagle Brenda Neagle on Sep 03, 2015
    I used General Finishes High Performance Top Coat.
  • Allison Smith Allison Smith on Sep 03, 2015
    Uh oh, you guys. I decided to go with wax and this happened. It looks terrible. Really showing the scuff marks from the sander and it left a weird film on the wood grain. Any suggestions from here? I'm worried I'll have to scrap the whole thing.
  • LD LD on Sep 04, 2015
    You will need to remove the wax from the piece of furniture first, then light sand in the direction of the grain of the wood with the finest grade sand paper and remove the dust with a tacky cloth, which can be purchased at a paint store, Home Depot or Lowes. If you want to preserve this look the best way is to give it a poly finish for durability, which does come in a wipe on method, which is what is recommended on pieces of furniture. In the future if you refinish or finish unfinished wood remember that you always sand with the grain of the wood so you don't get scuff marks.
  • JannG JannG on Sep 10, 2015
    I'd remove the wax with mineral spirits then degloss to get anything left behind. A very light sanding might be needed to get you back to where you were. I've had it happen too. I think the shine from the wax sometimes brings out the variations and contrasts you don't necessarily want seen. Rustoleum makes a matte polyurethane. Try applying that to a small spot in back. It'll fill in the lighter scratches but should leave a finish pretty true to what you have. It comes in quarts and I've mixed small 8 oz. satin with the quart to get just a hint of sheen that looks like wax over chalk paint. It works pretty well but as always, you never know the results until you try something.
  • Brenda Neagle Brenda Neagle on Sep 11, 2015
    I would also sand with very fine sandpaper with a block or palm sander to remove the scuff marks.
  • Angela Herremans Angela Herremans on Sep 12, 2015
    Hi Allison if you can get some high grit sandpaper the wet/dry sand paper is the best as it has a finer grit on it. Go for some that is 300 then 600 grit and then a finished polish sanding with a 1200 grit. You will need to do this by hand now so to lesson the damage to the unit now. This will take out all the ruff grit sanding marks on the unit and give it a smother finish. This will need to be done by hand. If you want the best finish its always best to finish sanding by hand no mater how big or small the job is. Use a water mixture of dishwashing liquid and water this will cut down on the dust and the water will show you as you sand the finished look your after. The soap helps the sandpaper to glide over what you are sanding without it grabbing while sanding. I have find this to give me a better finish. You will need to wipe it all down with clean water once you have finished sanding to remove the soap but you will love the finished look one you have done it this way :-) Once you have done this then using a polyurathin gloss which is for doing floors with, give it a few coats of that and it should look a lot better.
  • Jo Jo on Mar 23, 2016
    Like the look, just wax over but again with clear wax, 2 or 3 times. Each.