Home improvement projects can become expensive, especially if you buy new furniture to match your new décor. However, by refinishing your old bar stools you can save yourself money and transform your rusty or scratched stools into stylish items that complement your new kitchen or home bar.
You will have to spend a few dollars on materials and put in a few hours of work, but if you do it well your efforts should be rewarded and your bar stools could look nearly new again.
Metal Bar Stools
To get rid of any areas of rust on a metal bar stool you can use a rust-dissolver, which is applied with a brush and loosens the rust after a few minutes to make it easier to remove. When using a chemical rust-dissolver always take safety precautions and follow the manufacturer's directions.
The next stage is to sand all the metal parts of the frame using an emery cloth so that you have a smooth surface to apply the primer to. Rust-inhibiting primer is usually sold in an aerosol, which you can spray onto the metal. It's important not to over-spray as this will cause the primer to run and look untidy. If there are runs, wait until the primer is completely dry and sand them out using 240 wet-dry paper and water.
You can spray on the final finish once all the stools have been primed, using a metallic paint in your choice of color.
Wood Bar Stools
To refinish pine bar stools you'll need to expose the bare wood by using a scraper to remove the old finish. You may need to use a chemical paint stripper to loosen the finish, in which case take care to follow the directions on the label. Once the old finish has been removed it's important to use sandpaper to sand all the wooden surfaces smooth and open up the grain.
With wood furniture there are a variety of finishes to choose from. If you want a painted finish you'll need to apply a primer and an undercoat before painting your stools in your choice of color. Alternatively, to keep the natural look of the wood you can either apply a stain to alter the tone, followed by a protective finish, or you can leave the color of the wood as it is and simply apply a clear finish.
Refinishing bar stools and other used furniture is a great way to save yourself money and help improve the appearance of your home.
Contributed by Simon Phillips of GetBarStools.com
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