Antique Dresser Refinish
This antique Eastlake dresser which was very well loved was in need of a fresh start so we took it home and refinished it, giving it a second chance to shine again. Read on to learn how to refinish a dresser.
Best walnut stain finish!
This must have been such a beauty! Once we got the piece home we decided we would keep the top portion for a remodeling project in our own home and focused our attention on the bottom. We started by cleaning with a mix of 50/50 denatured alcohol and water.
We let it dry then reached for our favorite sander, the 3 x 4 electric ray Surfprep. We love it because it sands flat surfaces, has flexible foam pads for edges, curvy details and raised profiling and it even polishes hardware! I have a link and discount code if anyone is looking for the best versatile sander! So we started with a coarse grit - 80 and worked through the steps, eventually reaching 220.
These flexible pads really reduce hand sanding because they contour to the shape of the profile you are sanding. After sanding we removed all the dust with a tack cloth.
We were happily surprised to find what was under there- look natural that burl veneer in the middle of each drawer, it is amazing!
After sanding everything down, we used mineral spirits as a slip coat for our stain. We then used a gel stain with some thick foam brushes and applied a thin coat on the whole piece, making sure to apply sparingly to the drawer fronts, so their pattern would remain visible. Gel stain is one of the easiest things to work with, just make sure you are in a ventilated area and wear your respirator and gloves. After we applied the stain we quickly wiped off the excess with shop towels. We then sealed with a flat top coat.
Here is the final result! If you have Instagram, follow me there for behind the scenes!
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beautiful! thank you for not painting it
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I have the exact dresser & enjoy the original finish and kept the mirror on. . I love wood & just can’t paint any antiques. I like the look of painted items. Conflicted much? Ha
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Thank you soooo much for NOT painting it!! Old wood refinished is beautiful!!
I don't get how a flexible sander can get into delicate areas, without damaging the top of the intriquit design?
What is a slip coat?