How to refurbish timber and metal stools?

[dylanfosberry]

Hi All! I'm new to DIY and wanting some advice on this project. 

I am trying to refurbish these dark bar stools we have. I have started by sanding the wooden seat to remove the dark staining and I'm happy with the results. However, sanding alone has taken a long time. Would it be worth trying to chemically remove the stain then sand or will it damage the wood? Also if chemical is the way to go what product should I use as I don't have a lot of area to cover (there are only 6 chairs). I am intending on keeping the natural wood colour, so what would be the process for resealing once I have exposed the wood?

Also the legs have a bit of rusting. I have used a sander to remove parts of it but again would a chemical removal be better? 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

[MitchellMc]

Hi @dylanfosberry,

For the tops, I think you're on the right track and have achieved an excellent result; I recommend continuing with the sanding. To keep the natural look of the timber, you might like to oil them or use Cabot's Cabothane. 

The legs are rusting quite extensively. It's no longer just surface rust; it's eating into the thickness of the steel. I'd suggest removing as much of the loose rust as possible by sanding or with a wire brush and then treating it with a rust converter. Once you've converted the rust, you can paint the areas and rest of the frame.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell