What is the difference between refinishing and restoring a piece of furniture?
Refinishing involves removing (or sometimes referred to as stripping) the existing finish That can be accomplished by using stripper (a chemical application) and then removing the finish by scraping and sanding, or by just using the sanding method. After the piece is cleaned, it is stained the desired colour and then a finishing sealer or topcoat goes on (usually lacquer, varnish or wax). If a piece is being restored, it is thoroughly cleaned by using either a commercial wood cleaner, or a homemade mixture (often a blend of linseed oil and mineral spirits). Usually, the use of very fine steel wool is used in applying the cleaner. Then it is usually waxed or oiled (depending on the preference ) to get the desired appearance. In other words, refinishing involves removal of the existing finish, while restoring involves working with the existing finish and rebuilding the finish.
