Furniture Refinishing Course

Lesson 1 • Workspace Setup and Safety Fundamentals

Establishes ventilation, lighting, and organisation standards for a safe refinishing workspace. Proper setup prevents accidents and ensures consistent finish quality.

Lesson 2 • Types of Existing Finishes

Identifies lacquer, shellac, varnish, oil, and paint finishes by appearance and test methods. Accurate identification prevents incompatible product application.

Lesson 3 • Assessing Furniture Condition

Teaches systematic inspection for damage, repairs, and finish failure. Condition assessment drives the entire project plan and material selection.

Lesson 4 • Tools and Equipment Overview

Introduces hand tools, power tools, and application equipment used throughout refinishing. Familiarity with tools reduces errors and improves efficiency.

Lesson 1 • Hardware Removal, Restoration, and Replacement

Covers cleaning, polishing, and re-plating hardware and sourcing period-appropriate replacements. Hardware condition significantly affects the perceived quality of a restored piece.

Lesson 2 • Veneer Repair and Replacement

Teaches lifting, re-adhering, and patching veneer blisters and missing sections. Veneer repair preserves the original aesthetic of period and high-value furniture.

Lesson 3 • Filling and Rebuilding Missing Elements

Uses epoxy consolidants and wood fillers to rebuild missing moulding, edges, and carved details. Rebuilding restores visual completeness without replacing original material.

Lesson 4 • Joinery Repair Techniques

Covers re-gluing loose joints, dowel replacement, and mortise-and-tenon repair. Structural soundness must precede any cosmetic refinishing work.

Lesson 1 • Neutralising and Cleaning Stripped Surfaces

Explains neutralisation with mineral spirits or water rinses to stop chemical action. Proper neutralisation ensures adhesion of subsequent stains and finishes.

Lesson 2 • Chemical Stripper Types and Selection

Compares solvent-based, caustic, and biochemical strippers by strength and substrate compatibility. Correct selection prevents wood damage and speeds removal.

Lesson 3 • Mechanical Removal After Stripping

Teaches scraper and steel wool use to lift softened finish without gouging wood. Mechanical removal completes what chemicals begin.

Lesson 4 • Waste Disposal and Environmental Compliance

Addresses proper disposal of chemical waste, rags, and stripped finish residue. Compliance with hazardous waste standards protects workers and the environment.

Lesson 1 • Hand Sanding Techniques

Covers sanding block use, grain-direction discipline, and pressure control on flat and curved surfaces. Hand sanding provides control that machines cannot replicate.

Lesson 2 • Raising the Grain and Final Prep

Teaches water-raising technique to pre-raise grain before water-based products. Final prep ensures a smooth, dust-free surface ready for stain or finish.

Lesson 3 • Repairing Surface Defects Before Finishing

Addresses filling gouges, cracks, and nail holes with appropriate fillers. Defect repair integrated into sanding sequence produces seamless final results.

Lesson 4 • Sandpaper Grits and Abrasive Types

Explains grit numbering, abrasive minerals, and backing materials for furniture work. Selecting the right abrasive prevents over-sanding and surface contamination.

Lesson 1 • Stain Types and Chemistry

Distinguishes pigment stains, dye stains, gel stains, and combination products by behaviour. Understanding chemistry predicts how each stain interacts with wood species.

Lesson 2 • Colour Matching and Custom Mixing

Teaches mixing stains and dyes to match existing finishes or client specifications. Colour matching is a core professional skill for restoration and repair work.

Lesson 3 • Controlling Blotching on Porous Woods

Explains pre-conditioners, washcoats, and gel stains as blotch-control strategies. Blotch prevention is critical on pine, cherry, and maple for professional results.

Lesson 4 • Drying, Curing, and Stain Compatibility

Addresses drying times, cure requirements, and compatibility with topcoat systems. Skipping cure time causes adhesion failure and finish cloudiness.

Lesson 1 • Sheen Levels and Final Coat Strategy

Covers gloss, semi-gloss, satin, and matte sheens and how to achieve each reliably. Final sheen selection reflects client preference and piece function.

Lesson 2 • Topcoat Product Comparison

Compares nitrocellulose lacquer, conversion varnish, polyurethane, and oil finishes by performance. Product knowledge enables correct specification for each project type.

Lesson 3 • Spray Application Fundamentals

Introduces HVLP spray guns, fluid settings, and spray patterns for lacquer and waterborne finishes. Spray application delivers the smoothest, most professional results.

Lesson 4 • Building Finish Coats and Sanding Between Coats

Explains coat thickness, intercoat sanding with 320-grit, and film build targets. Proper build creates depth and protects against wear.

Lesson 1 • Waxing and Final Protection

Covers paste wax, carnauba wax, and finishing oil application for surface protection. Wax adds a final layer of protection and enhances visual depth.

Lesson 2 • Understanding Finish Defects

Identifies fish-eye, orange peel, runs, sags, and crazing by cause and appearance. Defect diagnosis is the prerequisite for selecting the correct correction method.

Lesson 3 • Quality Inspection and Client Handoff

Establishes inspection criteria for sheen consistency, surface smoothness, and colour accuracy. Structured handoff documentation builds client trust and professional reputation.

Lesson 4 • Wet Sanding Techniques

Teaches wet sanding with 400- to 2000-grit papers to level finish film. Wet sanding removes defects without cutting through to the substrate.

Lesson 1 • Two-Tone and Painted Furniture Finishes

Covers masking, colour blocking, and ombre techniques for decorative painted furniture. Two-tone finishes are a high-value service with strong market demand.

Lesson 2 • Milk Paint and Chalk-Style Finishes

Covers mixing, application, and sealing of milk paint and chalk-style products. These finishes are widely requested for farmhouse and vintage furniture aesthetics.

Lesson 3 • Glazing and Antiquing Techniques

Applies oil and water-based glazes over base coats to add depth and age effects. Glazing is a versatile technique for both decorative and restoration applications.

Lesson 4 • French Polish and Shellac Finishing

Introduces the pad application of shellac using the French polish method. French polish produces an unmatched depth of finish on fine and antique furniture.