I got this set at a garage sale this summer. The plan was to do a little Miss Mustard Seed treatment and paint the bottoms white and stain the tops. The headboard is done, but the dresser and changing table are over there on my to-do list.
I started with the headboard. Spray paint on the bottom, sand and stain the top.
Problem #1: The palm sander left these nasty marks on the headboard. So I sanded with a finer grit, put another coat of stain on it, and called it a day.
Primed and a couple coats of spray paint:
The finished product will have to wait for the big reveal.
So after I had trouble with the sander on the first piece of the set, I decided to use a chemical stripper on the dresser and changing table. It worked pretty well.
Except…
Problem #2: Partway through the changing table, I quit, and let the gunk dry on the changing table. Bad idea. That was about 6 months ago.
So I had to sand to get the dried on gunk off. You can guess where this leads, right?
Problem #3: I accidently sanded through the veneer in one spot (the middle, left in the photo) so then I quit sanding quite so much. (Problem #4) I should have known that I left too much finish on in some spots, but it wasn’t obvious to me until this:
BLECH! And, I have those same sander marks. (Problem #5)
I went back and sanded where I left the finish on, and restained. But it was really uneven (Problem #6) so I put a darker stain on it, hoping to hide the imperfections. And the darker stain looked terrible. (Problem #7) And now it’s ruined. Totally. I’m giving up.
I briefly considered using it as a potting bench, but my dad just happened to have a 2 ft. x 4 ft. piece of 3/4 in oak plywood laying around at his house, so he brought it over and I’m going use it instead.
I’m still sanding the top of the dresser (by HAND) to get every last bit of finish off, and I hope to have a full reveal of all three pieces by next weekend! Do you have any disaster projects like this?
Refinishing furniture is not my favorite thing to do, so I don't tackle much of it. Just remember that it'll look great once finished!!
ReplyDeleteoh i am so sorry! what a pain!
ReplyDeleteOh honey! I think I would have been tempted to just find a dark brown paint that's the color of my stained wood and said forget it and just painted the tops. I'm sure it will all be gorgeous when you're through though!
ReplyDeleteBless you heart. Thanks for sharing your mishaps because we all have them and it's nice to know it happens to others. I hope it all works out.
ReplyDeleteI meant bless your heart.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see the finished product. It's frustrating when things don't work at first. You'll have it looking great. Love your to do list on the side! :)
ReplyDeleteBless your heart! That is not what you need right now!!! I have never tried to refinish anything because I am a big ol' chicken! You will do it and it will be awesome! Just taking a little longer than planned, but will be awesome!
ReplyDeleteOh sorry that happened! Why don't you just distress the top now? You could sand it down a bit, use a light colored paint, let it dry, then do a dark over the top and sand off in spots. Take a look at my tutorial for my distressed eat sign to get an idea of what the heck I'm talking about if I'm not making sense LOL http://www.craftsbyamanda.com/2010/11/distressed-eat-sign.html
ReplyDeleteOh, you are not alone! I have had "disaster projects" too, like when I painted our slider. The window turned out great, the slider not so much. So my heart goes out to you!
ReplyDeleteI know you will get the look you want, and it will be beautiful when it's all done! :)
oh no! They all wont be this bad. Everyone has to have a bad project so that all the others will seem soooo easy!
ReplyDeleteI've got those same marks in the dresser I just refinished! It's pine too. Luckily, the darker stain worked out in my case. Good luck with your project. I'm sure it will be beautiful in the end.
ReplyDeleteOh sweetie I feel your pain! Dontcha love how DIY projects can *sound* so straightforward...?! Oh YES I've had several similar experiences leading me to do as a previous commenter and just fudge it. And your room remodel w/all new plaster, wiring, flooring etc etc has been the same story here as well. I so admire your commitment to all these projects. You're doin' great!!!
ReplyDeletehugs,
Leslie
I'm not a big refinisher either, but I commend you on all your efforts to salvage the project. I think you went above and beyond all that I would have known to do. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteOh, how I feel for you! I am NOT a furniture refinisher/painter either although there are so many bloggers who make it look so easy. Sure wish they lived nearby! I've got some work for them to do... You know what they say: If at first you don't succeed, try try again. Not me! But good luck if YOU decide to! :-)
ReplyDeleteI have had a few projects like this- it seemed such a great idea when I started till the mess came along! Sometimes just laying the project aside till inspiration comes and poof- it will be a great DIY project after all!
ReplyDeletebee blessed
mary
I, too, have had a refinish failure which led to resanding to the bare wood. I'm not much looking forward to stripping off the stain on my settee but the things we will do to get a certain look. Can't wait to see everything all finished up.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, I think we all have disasters but rarely show them. Funny thing was I made a disaster yesterday, a coffee filter wreath of all things. I thought that I should take pictures so I can post about my good idea gone wrong. I'm sure I'll take pictures and share it tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you will love the piece that much more once it is complete with all the work and frustration it caused you.
My only experience with staining pine was with an unfinished chest. I used a staining conditioner because pine doesn't take stain evenly. The conditioner (maybe it was called staining sealer?) was in a small can and was brushed on. Worked great.
ReplyDeleteI havent had one yet, but I just started so Im sure I have plenty to come in the near future, so I'm glad I wont be the only once! :) You'll have it looking great in no time!
ReplyDeleteDisasters are just a part of DIY. They're frustrating but they make you think resourcefully. I had a dining room table I thought I would never finish but I did. Don't give up!
ReplyDeleteYou can still get that stained look on the tops, with much less effort. Just paint them with a light flat paint (like not eggshell or semi-gloss) and then use stain over that. Then poly, of course. Ends up looking like stained wood.
ReplyDeleteOh, I just love that you posted a "fail"! So nice to konw I'm not the only one who tries. I'm sure you'll have it fixed in no time!
ReplyDeleteThis comes at a perfect time for me.... I'm sorry that you have had such an issue here!!
ReplyDeleteI have some side tables that are pine that I want to paint black. My husband suggested stripping them first or sanding them. I said no and told him that I would deal with what I got if it didn't work.
Now I know how his suggestion would have ended and since this will be the very first time I have ever done something like this it would have definitely been the last!!
Whew! Issue evaded! I look forward to your final product! I'm sure it will be gorgeous!
Betsy
Oh wow... I have an oak (I think) dresser and desk set that's been in my family for ages that I would LOVE to refinish... but thanks to your shared wisdom, I might just have to paint it when I get up the gumption to do anything. :)
ReplyDeleteRefinishing is such a pain 90% of the time. Sorry you had bad luck. Look forward to seeing the finished product.
ReplyDeleteDropping by from Met Mon. Hope you'll come see my youngest daughter's dining room redo.
Allison
Atticmag
I feel for you on this one. I think refinishing furniture is much more difficult than it looks. My husband is good at it, but he doesn't like to do it. I think painting is somewhat easier.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I have had this problem too on a dresser! But I was trying to paint it and the paint would adhere smooth. I ended up covering it up with wallpaper. Turned out nice, but what I had to go through to get it done was so hard, I so feel your pain. http://www.cre8tivedesignsinc.com/2010/09/mod-podge-saves-the-day/
ReplyDelete