Refinishing Second Hand Desks
by Reggie Carvel
Description: Easy tips for refinishing (staining or painting) a second hand desk.
Sponsored links:
There are few things more beautiful than wood furniture,
and that includes desks. However, over time wood can crack
and dry and begin to become damaged. The surface can become
dull and soiled, and there even may be dark splotches and
rings. This can mar the beauty of your furniture, and spoil
the neat appearance of your office or den.
In order to preserve the look of wooden desks, refinishing
can help restore the shine to the wood. It also serves to
protect the wood as much as to enhance the appearance of
the wood. In desks made from cherry, walnut, and mahogany,
refinishing can show off the grain contrasts that exist in
these woods.
When you think of refinishing it, start off with cleaning
the old and dirty layer first. Now, this cleaning should not
be done with water in any form. For example use only wood
friendly solvent and not water based ones. The refinishing
begins with stripping the old finish. Wood friendly remover
is used for the purpose. You buy a good one from any home
improvement store or specialty shop selling fine furniture.
Then use mild solvent to clean the residue.
You will need to sand the surface of the desks if it is
rough. You can sand the entire desk down but only after you
have cleaned everything off, removing the old finish and
paint, if any. You can use an electric sander to make this
process easier.
Next, it is time to decide on a color and sheen for your
desk. You can refinish the desk close to its original
color, or you can make a color change, depending on the
stain that you use. Before you do the entire desk, make
sure you test the color of the stain on an out-of-the way
portion of the desk, or on a similar piece of wood. You
want to make sure that when the stain dries, it is the
color that you prefer.
If you want a glossy look of the desk you can choose from a
variety of glossy levels. Most home improvement and
furniture specialty shops sell spray on finishes. Many
people prefer the matte finish that is not shiny, but has a
more natural look. However, if you want shiny high-gloss
sheen you will find a whole range of sprays of different
glossy levels.
Though the wooden desk look their best without being painted
over, you can add a coat of paint if you prefer. Remember,
these paints can ruin the look of the desk so just be very
careful when you choose one or else let the natural look be
there.
Before applying paint, make sure you have a good finish on
the wood. This will not only protect the wood but make it
easier to revert back to natural wood, in case you change
your mind after some time. Finally, apply a clear-coat on
your desk's paint after the final coat of paint dries.
Reggie Carvel is the chief writer for, and editor of
Art Desks,
it's one of the webs most up to date Desk sites,
their free newsletter is well worth signing up for too.
For more quality articles on Desk why not visit:
http://www.artdesks.com/articles
Related articles:
Bedroom Redo's on a Budget
10 Dollar Saving Bedroom Ideas
Romantic Bedroom on a Budget
