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A timber coffee table and entertainment unit upcycled with undercoat and varnish for a living room.
The project
Due to a home renovation to expand the kitchen area to include a dining space, it meant the loungeroom would end up smaller and its furniture would be too large. After giving away the rectangular coffee table and TV unit, I sourced used, smaller ones that needed to be resurfaced to complement other furnishings in the home. In addition, I needed a small wooden stand to support the centre speaker and house the DVD player.
Steps
Step 1
Day 1 - Disassemble, sand and apply first undercoat.
Use 120-grit sandpaper to remove older surfaces. Wipe down with a damp cloth. Apply the first coat of undercoat and sealer.
Step 2
Day 2 - Apply second undercoat and two topcoats.
Use 240-grit sandpaper lightly before second undercoat.
Apply a second coat of undercoat. Use 240-grit sandpaper lightly before the first stain and varnish. Apply the first coat of stain and varnish to show the wood grain. Use 240-grit sandpaper lightly before your second stain and varnish. Apply the second coat of stain and varnish to show the wood grain.
Step 3
Day 3 - Reassemble.
Reassemble legs and tops to frames and refit drawer handles. It wasn't until this project that I even considered using an undercoat and stain/varnish combination until I realised that they are both water-based.
Tools and materials
- Undercoat (water-based undercoat and sealer)
- Cabot's 250ml Maple Water Based Stain And Varnish
- Sandpaper (120-grit for initial paint removal)
- Sandpaper (240-grit for between undercoats and topcoats)
- Woodscrews (20mm for wooden stand)
- 6mm plywood.
Tools used in the project:
- Belt sander
- Screwdriver
- Spanner
- Handsaw
- Sanding block
- Paintbrush (general purpose for both undercoat and stain).
More inspiration for your upcycling project
Workshop member Joe repaired some broken timber before starting work on his upcycled chest of drawers and bedside drawers.
Community member diycollection sanded back an old piece of furniture and created an upcycled side table using chalk paint.
For more great ideas, check out the projects posted by our clever and creative community members in Upcycled buffets, our Top 10 most popular indoor furniture projects and 3 ways to upcycle a dining table.
Afternoon @RJsPlace
I remember this project, loved it then and still love it! You definently pushed me into looking at older furniture in a different way. I now slow the car as I cruise past council pickups when I see older furniture
How is it holding up to erveryday use? And is there anything you would modify from what you did since?
Dave
