Refinishing old wood furniture questions

Question

I have 2 wood cabinets (Drexel) from  the 70s. How can I lighten, or whitewash them. Don't want to paint them, as each piece has too much paneling.

Dysko7710 · Answer

Here is a tutorial on white washing. It sounds like you need to determine the wood type to see if it would work or not and which method you would use. Also, it involves sanding, which could be some work with all of the paneling:

http://www.wikihow.com/Whitewash-Cabinets

Janet S · Answer

Add a little water to a creamy toned Chalk Paint, making sure to stir well. Apply the thinned Chalk Paint by brushing it into the wood working every way to make certain it goes into the grain of the oak. Wipe off the excess several times until you have achieved the look you are after.

after at least 24 hours apply a good furniture wax and buff it off. The beautiful thing about this is all you need to do to prep your piece before hand, is take a sponge in a little bit of Murphys wood oil soap mixed with water and wipe it down good to get any old residYak oils and soil off of your piece.

Millie · Answer

sand the wood to remove most of the dark finish. You can use some clear stain to protect the wood but keep the lighter color. A poly clear coat will bring out the grain and leave some shine.

Sharon · Answer

I use wood bleach applied with sponge, and worked in with a brush. Keep applying until you get desired lighteness. Can put saran wrap over it to keep it wet.... stops working when dry. When done, wipe real good with a sponge several changes of water.

It helps if you use a stripper that says on the label it removes stain too.

Zonski · Answer

The wood of your cabinets is just superb, sturdy and B-autiful. Don't chalk paint them, please !!! you could just sand them, non ? And no varnish or poly something afterwards, just a coat of liquid SAVON NOIR (which contain olive oil) to stop intruders (stain, wood worms, etc) and have them look great in 2 centuries...

just for you to see what i mean (and i'm not a shareholder of this french factory, just a happy consumer of their products) : https://www.greenweez.com/marius-fabre-savon-noir-en-pate-1-kg-p9955?gclid=CjwKEAjw9_jJBRCXycSarr3csWcSJABthk07ZggnDHWuuMEuwm1SiC8sqCqrWNezElF_CHV1AHtfWBoClZvw_wcB#ectrans=1

Lja23984216 · Answer

I love the look of these. Have you thought about sanding down just the flat parts and leaving the decorative parts dark? I think it would keep the wood look with some great interesting dark/light contrast.

Lois Imbriano Barber · Answer

I agree with Zonski! These are BEAUTIFUL! Don't paint them! I know right now that chalk paint is in, but what goes in goes out. Refinish these beauties.

Refinishing old wood furniture questions

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