Refinishing an Oak Drop Leaf Desk

Part 7

Fig.1- Now that the front of the leaf had a whole day to dry ! I can safely spray it. I just happen to have some thick card board handy so I am using a sheet to place under my leaf. Do Not use newspaper, it may transfer the print on to your finish. I applied three coats to the front of the drop leaf, sanding and cleaning between coats.

Fig.2- Close up of the veneer patch on the front.

Fig.3- The three items on the left were cleaned using  steel wool and a stiff wire brush.

Fig.4- Illustration of all the hardware cleaned.

Fig.5- You can also use a soft wire wheel to clean your hardware. This one is set up on my shopsmith,and I used it to clean everything. A light touch is all that is required. You can also mount the wire wheel in a drill.

Fig.6- The last items to refinish are the knobs. Those I just dip into the stripper,and place them on my work table, and let them set there for a while. Then I steel wool them, clean them with Denatured Alcohol, stain and finish them. Seams like a lot of work, and steps to go through for such small items, but there are no short cuts.

Fig.7- I made a shop helper to hold knobs as I spray them plus dry them, or you can spray them one at a time as in Illustration # 6,them place them in the holder. The helper is just a long piece of wood with different size holes drilled through them. The knobs have their screws attached to them, so them will stay put, as I spray them.

Fig.8-The following Illustrations shows the completed project.

Fig.9- I hope you found this Illustrated Project Report helpful.

Any Questions.......E Mail Me.....