Prep
Restoring Old Wood
If you are going to simply restore a piece of old furniture you want to first clean the wood surface. You can use a cloth moistened with mineral spirits (paint thinner) to remove surface contaminants. If you like the color, find a ZAR Wood Stain Color that will match or have your hardware store match the color from a knob or drawer using ZAR tint base. Wipe the color on bare or worn spots. Follow the directions for dry time and apply a protective finish.
Refinishing Old Wood
If the finish has begun to peel and crack or the finish is broken or chipped or the paint color is outdated, it is time to take it down to bare wood. If the stripping material raises the grain of the wood, you will have to give it a light sanding. If the finish is stubborn and will not come up with stripping material, you could try a mechanical sander.
Furniture stripping
ZAR Remover is ideal for removing old finishes from vertical or horizontal surfaces. Work on one section at a time, starting with the easy horizontal areas. Spread the remover on the surface following the label instructions. When the finish has softened, gentle scrape to remove. Be careful when scraping, remember the wood will be soft and can be easily gouged. You can use steel wool on curved surfaces. Use as many coats of the stripping material as necessary to get the job done.
After you have removed the inferior finish, you may see some trouble areas such as dark rings or spots and paint remaining in the pores of the wood. You can bleach out old moisture stains with chlorine bleach. Sponge bleach over the entire surface, wait 5 to 10 minutes and wipe dry. Than apply bleach to just the stain, this will lighten the spot as it dries. Continue applying to the spot until you are satisfied with the results. To remove paint from the pores of the wood, you can apply fresh stripper and work into the wood with a nylon scrub brush or a toothbrush.
Wood Repair
Use ZAR Wood Patch to replace missing, badly damaged, or rotted wood. It can be used for everything from nail holes, nicks and cracks to major repairs. Allow patch to dry and sand according to directions. And now it is time to stain and protect your project (continue to wood finishing section).
Preparation for New Wood
Even new wood needs to be prepared for staining and finishing. First remove all hardware, knobs, hinges, etc.
Clean the wood surface with a cloth moistened with mineral spirits (paint thinner.) Allow the surface to dry.
Use ZAR Wood Patch to fill any holes, cracks or staple marks. Follow application, dry time and sanding instructions on the product label.
Always sand the surface before applying a stain or finish. This step assures the new finish will bond to the wood.
On new unfinished wood, start with medium sandpaper such as #120 to #150 grit, and then finish with fine sandpaper, such as #220 grit, until the surface feels smooth to the touch.
On previously finished wood, use fine sandpaper, #220 grit.
Finally, remove the sanding dust. With oil-based finishes, use a cloth dampened with mineral spirits. With water-based finishes, use a cloth dampened with water.