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Refinishing Second Hand Desks
by Reggie Carvel
http://www.artdesks.com
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.
The first thing that needs to be done in any
desk-refinishing venture is to strip the old finish. Use a
remover that is safe for use on wood furniture. It is
possible to find these products at home improvement stores
and specialty shops that sell fine furniture. Use a
friendly solvent to clean up the residue left by the
remover (do not use a water-based solvent for this,
however). And never clean desks or other fine wood
furniture with water.
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.
Once the desk is free from the old paint and the surface is
smooth you have to decide on a color and sheen for your
desk. It is entirely up to you whether you want to refinish
the desk close to its original color or make a color change.
It depends on the stain that you use. However, before you do
the entire desk, test the color of the stain on a portion of
the desk that is less noticeable. This is to make sure that
when the stain dries, it is the color of your choice.
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.
It is wiser to have a wood finish done before you paint the
desk. This protects the wood from harsh paint chemicals.
Also if you find it better to stick to the natural look you
can easily revert to the natural color. You must clear-coat
the desk after it has been painted and the final coat of
paint dries. This enhances the paint's longevity.
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