Refinishing Tips/Advice help please

Sounds like you have the bases covered. I am not a fan of polys but know a lot of people swear by them. Probably not necessary unless the top will get heavy use/exposure to moisture.

 

Polys? is that the protector/sealant? Why aren't you a fan? My husband and I drink a lot of cold sparkling water from a can and we don't use coasters on our night stand so that would be the extent of moisture that the night stand would receive.

 

Also, can I have paint thinner that says it is made with mineral spirits, can I use that for the wipe down to remove oils and wax? Or do I have to buy one that is actually called mineral spirits?

 

Wow.....that is a lot work! Have you seen all the lacquer pieces out there? Incredible! https://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/decorating/painted-furniture?amp=true

 

Wow those lacquer pieces are nice! Is lacquer easier to use?

 

Can someone please tell me if I can use paint thinner that says it is made with mineral spirits to wipe down the furniture to remove oils and wax? Or do I have to buy one that is actually called mineral spirits?

 

Paint thinner and mineral spirits are often the same thing. You can use it.

 

Thank you so much!

 

It is the protector/sealant. I don't like them because they do not penetrate and bind as well as some other finishes. Consequently, they can chip off or peel. They also can have a more plastic look to them making wood look more like Formica. This would not be an issue over paint. I have not used them in years. Perhaps my bias is due to older formulations and they have improved since then. I know some people swear by them.

 

Wow! Good job and nice color!

 

Sorry I am asking so many questions, it's just that I am completely new to this and every time I try to google one of my questions I end up down some rabbit hole and forgetting what I was even asking. There is just so much info out there and it's very overwhelming from a beginners point.

 

Should I do repairs like fixing one of the legs that is loose, and fixing scratches, scuffs, dents, etc before I wipe it down with the paint thinner or after? I just wiped it down with murphy oil soap wood cleaner and noticed little indents and blemishes here and there. Hope everyone is staying healthy! Looks like we should get used to this since Trump just extended the date to April 30th.

 

Here are some pics of the loose leg (I don’t know why my pics keep uploading sideways because they are not like that on my phone:

 

Also can I use any of this stuff for the repairs? I found them in my storage room & would like to use anything I already have.

 

And here are a couple of chips/gouges I was talking about.

 

The loose leg probably just needs to be tightened. These were meant to be removable so you probably do not want to glue them. The shallow scuffs can be sanded. The gouges probably need to be filled with wood putty before sanding. The repairs can be done after cleaning.

 

Lacquer is definitely not easy to use but the results are pretty incredible. I dont have to 'mask up' when using chalk paint but you will probably have to with lacquer unless you work outside. You will have a difficult time trying to find masks and gloves right now.

 

Aw man I am beat haha I have been working on these pieces throughout the last few days and it’s a lot of work! I just primed the night stand and I am still prepping the dark long one and the dark tall one. There are a lot of chips and gouges that I have had to repair and then I felt like I was maybe getting too OCD with repairing the imperfections so I took a break and when I went back I was like omg this is too much lol I need to let minor ones be. In the future how should I determine what to repair and what to leave alone? I hope my piece doesn’t look all lumpy from all of the kwikwood epoxy putty!

 

Hopefully, you sanded the wood putty. Really did not need to use epoxy putty but it should give good results. When painting, I do putty most gouges. Anything that will smooth with sanding, I sand.

 

Omgosh I def over did it with the epoxy putty! I spent most of my day sanding and now my entire body is sore.