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Refurbish an Old Cabinet by Vicky Smith
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Refurbish an Old Cabinet |
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Business
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Have you ever wanted to restore an old (or new), piece of furniture or cabinet and just didn't know how to begin? Or perhaps there is a piece that you just don't like the looks of anymore and would like to change it to something brighter or more eye pleasing? In this article you will learn some of the activities it takes to do just that. Acquire an old cabinet. The one used in this article is an old baker's cabinets taken from an abandoned house, probably from the 1930s or 40s. As more and more of the old paint was removed, the construction technique indicated a hand made piece or perhaps a high school shop project. It's still very old as indicated by the 16” wide clear pine lumber used in the flour bins. Remove all the hardware from any drawers, doors, legs, etc. The handles removed from this piece, under two layers of paint, were made of brass or copper plated steel. Much of the plating is worn away, but they can still be reused. Remove the top. Strip the old paint, or in this case, the old linoleum finish. If the top is in usable condition, it can be refinished, or as an alternative, apply ceramic tile, or even laminate flooring for a beautiful new look. If you decide to enlarge the top (for example, to make a eating area), more of the same type of lumber must be acquired to extend it (preferably wood that matches the old), or a new top must be built. This piece received a new top made from old barn wood so that a breakfast bar could be added to one side. Begin removing the old paint using the hot air gun (heat stripper). Keep the gun moving in a circular or back and forth motion so that you do not scorch the wood. Work in small areas and as the paint begins to bubble, use the putty knife to scrape up the paint. Be careful not to scratch or gouge the wood. As one section of paint begins to bubble, hold the gun in front of the knife, and gently push the putty knife forward. Slowly continue to move the gun forward while scraping. The hot air gun will only remove paints and varnishes, it will not remove stain. Use the stripper to clean up all the nooks and crannies. This is also a good time to clean up any old hardware that you are going to keep, and repair damaged areas of the piece. A small brass brush and a nail work well for cleaning detailed areas. Sand all surfaces until the desired finish is achieved. To maintain the “old” look, the nicks, gouges, and dents may be left in place. If the piece will be painted, and a “new” look is desired, putty all the defects and allow the putty to dry before sanding. Due to shrinking, if the defect is large, more than one layer of putty may be required. Stain the piece with the desired color and let dry. On woods like pine, it is best to use boiled linseed oil thinned with mineral spirits, or a commercially made wood conditioner prior to applying the stain to achieve a more uniform color.
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cabinet, kitchen,
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