My Favorite Products
Here are my favorite products I use regularly, but some we do not carry in our brick and mortar store "Oakwood Exchange".This is a quick clickable way to locate these product and have them shipped to your door!
Prep Tools
Here are links to my favorite tools for preparing furniture and home decor for refinishing.
If you plan to refinish furniture regularly, you might want to consider purchasing a sanding system that can sand both straight and curved surfaces. I LOVE mine!
This is the sander I started with. It doesn't have as much power but does a good job for the price.
I use these to rinse and scrub since they are lint free and clean up easily.
I use an inexpensive scrub brush to clean my brushes. It can also be used to scrub furniture.
(For larger projects or ones that have heavy build up, I recommend purchasing this concentrate and mixing up a spray bottle at a time.)
Green EZ Strip and Clean Concentrate
This bottle of concentrate will make 8 16oz bottles of cleaner when mixed with water.
*Empty spray bottles for mixing can be found at WalMart or Dollar Tree which is much cheaper than any Amaazon has to offer.
Serious Grit 3x4" Sandpaper Assorted Paper
I use Bondo ALL of the time to fill holes, rebuild missing pieces of wood, etc. It can be sanded smooth and is very durable. (You cannot stain over it but you can paint over it.)
The hardener that comes with the Bondo kit doesn't always have enough of the cream hardener, so this refill comes in handy instead of having to buy the entire can again.
Titebond Quick and Thick Wood Glue
All Titebond wood glues are good, but this one doesn't run and dries clear, which makes it perfect for making repairs to wood.
Priming Supplies
These products are on my favorite list because I've used them with great success. They have proved to be quality and will last the test of time.
This product can be used in conjunction with all water based paints. It provides not only superior adhesion for paint, but also provides flawless protection from wood bleed through. I had great success using it on both smooth slick surfaces as well as deeply grained wood.
I tend to use the gray primer most but the clear works great when distressing of paint is desired.
I use these to remove dust after sanding with 600-grit sandpaper between coats of primer. They are lint-free and are great for removing dust without having to add water to the surface and prolong drying time.
Favorite Paints
I've been painting furniture for over 25 years and have used several types/brands of paint. When it comes to furniture restoration, using a quality paint will provide the durability and beauty to make furniture last a lifetime. Below, I will share some of my favorite paint brands and favorite types of paint. Each piece comes with its own unique needs, and furniture type can play an important role.
Wise Owl One Hour Enamel Paint
Description:
ONE HOUR ENAMEL is an incredibly tough fast dry acrylic enamel for interior and exterior use on surfaces that require quick return to service and an abrasion resistant finish. It is water thinned so it poses no fire hazard or objectionable odor. The product is based on a specialized acrylic resin that dries quickly to a tough, durable film that has excellent weather, blocking and abrasion resistance along with superior adhesion properties. With its’ quick dry, quick sand and quick re-coat times ONE HOUR ENAMEL helps you get the job done faster than conventional acrylic finishes. The products’ superior resistance to blocking means that you will be able to put doors and windows back in service much quicker than with competitive acrylic finishes.
Wise Owl One Hour Enamel has a tough durable finish that is truly cutting edge. Its technology utilizes one of the strongest acrylic resins paired with superior synthetic pigments. It is absolutely an industrial-strength finish.
Ceramic Like Hardness
Ceramic Like Durability
Stone Like Hardness
Wise Owl Chalk Synthesis Paint
Many people love to use chalk paint because it is beginner friendly and can be diluted and used for staining wood. It also is a great product for blending colors. My favorite use for chalk paint is for crafting. It dries fast, provides a surface that can be easily layered with other crafting items due to it's dull surface.
Fusion Mineral Paint
To purchase Fusion Mineral Paint, stop by our store at:
203 East Exchange Street
Geneseo, IL
One of the first types of paint I used for refinishing furniture was Fusion Mineral Paint. It is a fantastic product that provides a quality finish that looks great on all furniture! There are many tutorials that can be viewed on Facebook showing how to use their products.
Painting Tools
Using the proper tools when painting can make all the difference in the finished results. I have tried several. Below is a list of one's I would highly recommend.
There are several types of brushes for any piece you are painting. Some are for larger surfaces, some for tight, hard-to-reach places, and others are designed to appeal to each painter's unique preferences.
Since I paint a variety of objects, my "go to" brush is the Cling On FA40. It is a 2" flat brush with angled bristles. It offers great surface coverage, the added feature of painting clean edges, as well as access to hard-to-reach areas.
Take a look through them and see which one you think will work best for you.
Using a canvas drop cloth can save you time and money. It folds and unfolds easily and quickly and it can be washed between uses. I also find it's easier to shake off debris than plastic drop cloth.
Having one of these next to you when painting can save you time and effort. They work great next to hardware, tops, sides, and bottoms of drawer fronts. These are my favorite ones because they can withstand frequent cleaning and use. The bristles remain intact and eliminate that pesky job of removing bristles embedded into the paint. Best part is their affordable price.
Paint. Storage Containers (FIFI Brand 16oz.)
I have tried so many ways to store my paint so it can be preserved and remain usable for years to come. This brand FIFO is the best by far! The lids screw on and off perfectly and the seal keeps air out to prolong paint quality. I have paint stored in these from 8 years ago and it still is as good as it was the day I put it in the container!
Paint Storage Containers (FiFO Brand 32oz)
The size is my favorite feature of this bottle. It holds 10oz. of water and provides a perfect mist of water with no random bursts that dispense too much water. I NEVER paint without one of these within reach. It is KEY
for diminishing brush stroke lines and provides a beautifully smooth finish with ALL paints.
