French Polishing and Bespoke Furniture
Unfinished furniture itself is incredibly cost-efficient because it is not finished. Instead of spending the money on the piece you want and then paying for shipping, it is easier on you and your bank account to find an unfinished piece retailer either in your area or online.
If you check the relevant parts of furniture that you already owned I’m sure you’ll discover examples, in solid wood as well as in plywood. Leaving wood unfinished can actually be a perfectly acceptable option even in high-humidity parts of the house like kitchens and bathrooms.
Wood furniture that is untreated — that is, unfinished or unsealed — behaves much like a fresh unused board, porous and absorbent. Harsh chemical cleaners are out of the question, as they may damage or discolor the wood as it absorbs the liquid.
Do NOT start sanding with very fine sandpaper on unfinished wood . Prepare the surface by using medium sand paper first, and then proceed to finer grades. Water based finishes need a smoother surface than oil based finishes, but do not over sand or you may seal the wood so much that it will not take a finish.
Ikea offers a few unfinished furniture pieces that make painting even easier. The full Ivar Dining Set comes with the table and four chairs ; $169 at Ikea .
All surfaces should be clean and free from all dirt and oils. Prep sanding is done with progressively finer grits. Do NOT start sanding with very fine sandpaper on unfinished wood . On most raw woods, start sanding in the direction of the grain using a #120-150 grit paper before staining and work up to #220 grit paper.
Linseed oil
Some chemicals can discolor or even warp the wood , so only use natural cleaners ( Murphy Oil Soap is one option) or mineral spirits. Alternatively, you can use Murphy Oil Soap to clean your unfinished floors. This gentle cleaner will remove dirt and grime without having to worry about toxic fumes.
-If it is a piece that will get a fair amount of use – like a tabletop; apply a coat or two of soft beeswax based paste wax to protect it. This will condition the wood , keeping it looking very natural with a matte finish while enhancing and protecting the wood grain.
Apply a small amount of lemon oil, mineral oil or baby oil to the dried surface as a lubricant. Sand the oily surface, applying light pressure with only your fingertips, in the direction of the wood’s grain. Once the finish is smooth, wipe off the oil with a clean cloth.
There are three surefire ways to waterproof your wood for years to come. Use linseed or Tung oil to create a beautiful and protective hand-rubbed finish. Seal the wood with coating of polyurethane, varnish, or lacquer. Finish and waterproof wood simultaneously with a stain- sealant combo.
Don’t Use Water. Unlike sealed wood floors, you should never use water to clean unsealed wood flooring. Sweep and Vacuum Regularly. To keep your unsealed floor clean , it’s important to sweep or vacuum regularly. Treat With Oil. Wax.
Water-based, gloss or semigloss, latex /acrylic interior paint is a common choice for unfinished furniture. Oil-based enamel paints also can be used as an attractive, durable paint for unfinished furniture. However, clean-up for oil-based paints is a much bigger chore than for water-based paints.
The darker colour tends to ‘ghost’ through the new paint no matter how many coats you apply, so you will need to use a primer . If you are painting bare , untreated wood , the answer is definitely yes, you will need to prime the surface first.
Raw Wood . Unfinished wood should always be primed prior to painting . Primer , having high-solids content, helps fill in the wood grain and creates a smooth surface for the finish coat. Like the raw drywall, unfinished woods tend to really soak up paint , and primer helps seal the surface to prevent this from happening.