How to Refinish Hardwood Furniture Without Sanding

If you own solid hardwood furniture, or furniture with hardwood veneer, then you likely want to avoid heavy sanding when refinishing the pieces. Heavy sanding can remove much of the beauty of wood grain and compromise the structural integrity of thin veneer panels. Plus, sanding furniture creates a lot of sawdust.

Luckily, you can refinish hardwood furniture with minimal or no sanding, thus preserving the find beauty of the wood. The method below works well so long as the furniture has only a moderate layer of paint or lacquer.

Tools you may need:

solvent or mineral spirits
cotton rags
hand-held buffing pads
stain, lacquer, and/or polyurethane

First, set up your work station in a well-ventilated area and put on a nose or face mask. Begin by peeling off loose strips of old varnish. Next, soak a rag with solvent and rub the hardwood surface to dissolve the old layer of varnish. Rub the cloth in several directions, both with the grain and against the grain, as well as in circular motions.

You can take breaks if the fumes are too heavy. For a large piece of hardwood furniture, you can strip the old finish over a span of several days.

Once you have removed enough of the old finish, give the furniture one last clean rinse of solvent. Then let the furniture dry completely.

Use the buffing pads to smooth and refinish the hardwood surface. Buff the furniture with gentle swirling motions all over the surface. When you are finished, clean the wood with more solvent or mineral spirits.

With a sponge brush, apply one layer of polyurethane (or other refinishing products). Let the first coat dry overnight before applying a second coat. Allow the furniture to dry in a place that is well-ventilated and free of dust and debris.