Not having much luck on other boards here or with google so hopefully someone here may be able to help me-

I have this piece and a lot of matching furniture:



Yesterday I got a steal on some "rustic" furniture in need of reconditioning. My goal is to sand the "new" pieces down and refinish to match the above.

Everything is pine. What product(s) do you suggest I use? I haven't taken on a project like this before.

Also, I went to a number of hardware and furniture stores today and was frustrated by the different responses I got. Some said I should only use Briwax, other some type of oil stain, even had someone tell me I need polyurethane which I know is wrong.

It can't be that complex or difficult; this stuff is made cheaply in Mexico! Here are some more examples; I just need to know how to achieve that look from raw or sanded pine:

http://myrusticfurniture.com/Catalogue.html



[This message has been edited by No.7 Aggie (edited 7/18/2008 6:10p).]

I always liked multiple coats of linseed oil. I don't know if that will give you what you want, though.

We finished some with dark colored paste wax. Don't remember where we got it... maybe home depot?

[This message has been edited by swampstander (edited 7/18/2008 6:26p).]

I think we can give you some better answers if you are able to post pics of both the new and old furninture. Also, I wouldn't sand the finish off. I would strip the finish off with a chemical stripper, then do a light sanding with fine sandpaper.

I personally prefer Tung Oil finishes. They go on easy, are easy to reapply, and darken slightly as they cure. And if you ever gouge, ding, or scrape your furniture, all you've got to do is put some more oil on it. I'm not a fan of stains, since they tend to mask the natural beauty of the original wood color.

You are going to get lots of different responses because that is just the nature of finishing. Everybody has a favorite. I taught woodworking to adults for 5 years and finishing is the most complicated part of the subject. I also cannot answer the question without a better pic.

Watco Danish Oil finishes, are sold almost everywhere. You just put some on a rag and wipe it on. It comes in several colors. I dont remember the names, but from the looks of the picture and the fact that you have pine, pick the one that is a dark chocolate color. You can also buy two different colors and mix them if needed. Wipe it on and wipe it off and you are done. It should come out looking about like your photo. If you can, always take a scrap piece of wood & practice first. Of course you can practice on a hidden part of the furniture too. Later you can top it off with a polyurethane if you wanted, but the pic doesnt look like that to me.

Also remember on pine, you may find varying density which varies how much stain the wood soaks in. A GEL stain is better for this because it floats more on top instead of soaking in and gives a little more consistent color. Personally, I think you get character when you hit spots that stain differently.

Lastly, as someone said, dont sand if you can avoid it. Strip it with a chemical stripper.

If you want the rustic look take your bicycle chain and beat the crap out of it first.

I had Mexican furniture made years ago. The dark stain, almost mahogany, was made from Johnson's paste wax, tar (they sell hard chunks of it in Mexico), and sand! Recently I wanted to stain new pine doors that currently popular golden orange color. Couldn't find anyone who could tell me how to get that color, so I tried a variation of the Mexican recipe. I used Johnson's wax mixed with globs of artist's oil paint in burnt sienna and burnt umber. (Approximately 1/2 cup wax and 1teaspoon each of the paints.) It came out beautifully. Be sure wood surface is clean. Every flaw will show, though a certain number of flaws are desirable in rustic furniture. The color is absorbed in the first application. It is difficult to make it darker with a second pass so test out the mixture before applying. Good luck!

Did you really just create an account to comment on a thread that has been idle for 7 years?

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Did you really just create an account to comment on a thread that has been idle for 7 years?

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This has to be some kind of record for a bump.

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Did you really just create an account to comment on a thread that has been idle for 7 years?

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This has to be some kind of record for a bump.

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Several months ago, I bumped a thread on Politics about military aircraft in the air on on their way to Iraq to start bombing for the second Iraq war.

That is an impressive bump, but I actually know something about this topic.

I have a hutch that my parents bought in Mexico 50+ yrs ago. Dad said they covered the entire thing in tar, then washed it off with gasoline and strapped it to the top of the station wagon. Not sure if they still use that same procedure today.