Furniture Finds

Photo by: Industry is Future

The printed newspaper still serves some purposes well, and one of them is the classifieds. Comb through those cryptic, abbreviated messages and give the owner a call to check out a piece of furniture.

Always take someone with you for safety and have questions ready to ask about the merchandise when you arrive. If either the owner or furniture reaks of smoke, don't buy—that smell won't ever completely leave.

Steer clear of furniture that isn't solid wood. Particle board junk is cheaper, but it won't last very long and you'll easily double your buying over the long term.

The best bets are solid oak or another hard wood that you can refinish for your color and decor. Sanding and staining is a cathartic process, one I'd recommend to anyone looking for a gratifying hobby.

With a small initial investment and elbow grease, you can buy diamonds for pennies and let their true beauty shine. Use these beginner tips to get started on your next recycling project.

To get started, you'll need:

• orbital sander (don't forget to look on Craig's List first) 
• several packs of sandpaper from fine to medium grit
• drop cloth
• stripping agent and scraper for existing stain
• 10-15 rags
• wood conditioner
• rubber gloves
• mask
• 2" paint brush
• stain
• polyurethane sealant (I like semi-gloss for most pieces)
• new hardware (optional)

Before beginning:

Select a piece of furniture that doesn't have too many details or complex surfaces for your first project. You need simple lines and planes to practice with technique before tackling more detailed pieces.

• Step 1:
  Prepare a secure area outside with minimal wind and plenty of ventilation. The garage works fine. Place your furniture on top of a drop cloth and secure the edges of the cloth to the ground. If you have little ones running around the house, make it absolutely clear they may not go near the furniture.
• Step 2:
  This is the hardest and ickiest part of the project. If you can push through this the rest is down hill. Put on your gloves and mask. Apply the stripping agent to your furniture with a paintbrush. Do not paint back and forth—the stuff works the best when you slop it on thick and leave it. It is highly acidic and very painful to the touch. Let it sit for the time recommended on the can and wipe it off with rags. You will probably need to apply it at least twice. The goal is to remove most of the original stain, but some of it will have to be sanded off. After applying the stripper wipe down with a damp cloth and let sit for a few hours.
• Step 3:
  Sanding is the fun job. But to avoid changing the shape of the piece or causing damage to it, you must have patience. Attach a sheet of medium grit paper to your orbital saw and begin sanding the large areas such as the drawer faces, table tops, and seats, with the grain only. Don't spend too much time on one area, but rather "apply" the sanding as if it were a coat of paint. Give equal pressure to all surface areas so you don't have a dip in the wood. Repeat with a finer grit of sandpaper to give it a smooth finish.
  
  Any curves or edges will need to be sanded by hand, and this is where you will need patience. Always apply pressure, but not too much. Try to use a sanding block whenever possible to avoid finger lines in the wood.
• Step 4:
  When your piece is completely sanded, wipe it clean with a damp cloth and apply wood conditioner. Let it rest to dry for at least 24 hours. Keep it secured in a dry place until staining.
• Step 5:
  Apply stain to your wood with a paintbrush. You may want to test a hidden area first to make sure the color you want jives with the wood—sometimes the final look varies widely from the sample. Wipe off excess stain according to directions on the can and give it an ultra-light sanding. More than likely, you'll want to add another coat several hours after the first. Sometimes putting a different stain on top of the first coat gives it a deep, rich color. Don't be afraid to play!
• Step 6:
  Let the stain dry completely and re-sand if necessary. This last step is the hardest—it gives the piece a smooth look like the topcoat of a manicure. If it looks globby, your finished work will be a mess. Paint the furniture with 2 polyurethane coats, letting each dry for several hours (outdoor pieces need to use marine grade polyurethane to stand up to the weather). Always load your brush with enough goop and paint into the areas that have already been coated. Let the piece dry for at least three days and, presto! You have a hand-crafted gem for much less than the furniture dealer.

When you can't find something to repurpose, you can still purchase within a tight budget from responsible manufacturers who keep sustainability as a core value. Among those putting action to mission statement is IKEA, the Sweden based furniture maker. IKEA is all about maximizing small spaces with innovative yet accessible design.

Shoppers can easily spot the ways IKEA cuts smart corners to bring consumer cost down—customers collect their own products throughout the warehouse, assemble furniture at home, and even bus their own tables in the upstairs cafeteria. In exchange for less curbside service, get functional, modernish style at a steal.

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