We borrowed an old dresser that had been in storage for the past few years. It originally belonged to the owner's grandmother, but had been put in storage when the owner moved. She thought that she just didn't have the time to refinish it and wasn't really sure that it was worth the effort. Now the dresser is a show piece in her home and the happy owner is talking about refinishing other forgotten treasures.
STEP 1: Set up your work area and start by removing the hardware and putting it aside. Then prepare the piece by removing the drawers.
STEP 2: We used a chemical stripper to remove the original finish with special attention to detail on the edges. You can also use sandpaper and/or scrapers, but be sure not to damage the patina of the old wood.
STEP 4: Before staining any project, make sure to remove all sanding dust, dirt, grease or glue with a vacuum or clean rag dampened with mineral spirits.
