Transform an Unfinished Chest | |
Place the chest on a drop cloth or old bed sheet to protect the floor and bring in additional lighting if it's needed. Pull the drawers out of the chest and remove the hardware so it's easier to work on. Since most of the heavy sanding was done at the factory, just give the unfinished wood a light, even sanding with medium-grit (120) sandpaper to remove rough areas and smooth splintered edges. Before applying the colored finishes, wipe down the chest with a tack rag, which has a sticky wax in it to pick up dust and sandpaper grit. Begin staining the chest with a coat of winter white wood finish using a 2-in. brush to apply a light coat. Work in a small area and allow the finish to soak into the wood for a minute or so. Wipe it off before it starts to get tacky. The amount of finish that you wipe away determines the look. You'll create a soft colored finish and not mask the wood grain if you wipe most of the white finish off. Apply a second coat if you want a deeper, more opaque look. The drawer fronts come next. Use a brush to color two of the drawers with slate blue in the same way you applied the white finish. Apply rose bisque frosted stain and finish to the third drawer. Wipe the finish on with a rag, allow it to penetrate for about 10 minutes, and then wipe off the excess. If it needs a second coat, let it dry for two hours and then apply in the same manner. Allow the finish to dry overnight and then apply a topcoat of clear semi-gloss polyurethane to protect it. For a finishing touch, add colorful ceramic drawer pulls. Best Tips: - The secret to a professional-looking finish is a smooth beginning. Lightly sand all surfaces with 120-grit sandpaper in a sanding block. - Apply pastel wood finishes using a brush to a 12-inch square area. Allow the finish to sit on the wood for a minute or so, then gently wipe up the excess to achieve the effect you want. - A mixture of polyurethane finish and pigment is another easy-to-apply finish. Wipe it on with a rag, allow the finish to penetrate into the wood, and then wipe off the excess with a rag. - You can dress up an inexpensive unfinished chest with custom hardware that is installed easily with a screwdriver. written by the editors of HouseNet Copyright HouseNet, Inc. |