How to Refinish Furniture Using a Sanding Sealer

Sanding sealer is a good product to consider using when you are refinishing furniture. Essential when using a water-based stain while refinishing, a sanding sealer is also good for filling in naturally occurring pits and grooves in some furniture wood grains. However, like any refinishing product, a sanding sealer must be applied carefully to get the most benefit while refinishing furniture.

Sanding sealers are applied to protect the wood and prevent the stain from bleeding. For this reason, if you are using a water-based stain you should always use a sanding sealer. It is also a good product to use if you want a particularly smooth surface, as is desired with bureaus, nightstands, and tabletops because it fills in small grooves and sanding marks on the surface.

To use a sanding sealer, you should first make sure that the piece of furniture you are refinishing is free of dust and has been thoroughly cleaned with a dry cloth. You should plan on applying it before you apply any stain to the furniture, but after you’ve removed the old finish and bleached the wood if that is part of your project.

Sanding sealer, like other refinishing products can often separate, so it is important to mix it well before beginning. When you apply the sealer, you should try to avoid overlapping strokes and starting with smaller areas first. Apply carefully, attempting to minimize brush strokes. When the piece has been refinished, you should allow it to dry for two hours or according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

After the recommended time has elapsed, plan on lightly sanding the piece of furniture once more with a fine grit sand paper. It is important to get the surface as smooth as possible without over sanding. Then apply a second coat of the sealer using the same techniques that you used to apply the first coat. Two coats of this sealer should be enough of a barrier to prevent any stain bleeding and get all of the benefits of this product.

After waiting a few hours, you should then apply your choice of stain over the sealer. After the stain has dried, you can then apply a topcoat according to your refinishing preferences.

Using a sanding sealer may seem like a needless extra step, but the difference it can make in the finial result when refinishing furniture is remarkable. For this reason, if you are considering refinishing your furniture and using a stain, use a sanding sealer. Although it will add a few hours to your project, you’ll be able to reap the benefits of those two extra coats for years to come.