In this detailed guide, Kelley from Waterfall Woodworking shares her experience and techniques for flipping an old dresser into a stylish, modern piece. Whether you’re new to woodworking or looking to refresh your skills, this project is beginner-friendly and full of valuable insights.
Materials and Tools Needed
- Old dresser
- Screwdriver
- Chisel
- Water and dish soap
- Sandpaper (80 grit, 150 grit, 240 grit)
- Dixie Belle Silk Paint (color: Deep Sea)
- Minwax Stain (color: Early American)
- Walrus Oil Furniture Butter
- New handles (adjustable gold handles from Amazon)
- Tack cloth
- Painter’s tape
- Wood filler
Step 1: Preparing the Dresser
Kelley begins her project by sourcing an old dresser from Facebook Marketplace for a low price. She starts by removing all the handles with a screwdriver and uses a chisel to take off the keyholes.
Next, she cleans the entire dresser using a mixture of water and dish soap to eliminate any dirt and dust, ensuring a clean surface for sanding.
Step 2: Sanding the Dresser
After the dresser is dry, Kelley starts sanding it down using 80 grit sandpaper. She aims to strip the finish down to the wood grain, which she finds to be a time-consuming task.
Upon finishing the sanding, she admires the beautiful wood grain that has emerged. However, as it is her first furniture flip, she acknowledges making some mistakes, particularly with the wood veneer on the drawers.
Step 3: Identifying Mistakes
Kelley reflects on her mistakes, noting that she over-sanded the first drawer, which damaged the veneer. She also discovers the need to fill the old keyhole spaces with wood filler.
After testing the wood filler with stain, she finds it unsatisfactory, prompting her to rethink her approach.
Step 4: Scuff Sanding
To prepare the dresser for painting, Kelley decides to scuff sand the rest of the piece with 150 grit sandpaper. This step helps to remove the shiny layer, allowing the paint to adhere better.
Step 5: Painting the Dresser
After much consideration, Kelley opts to paint the entire dresser while leaving the wood top stained. She tapes off the top to protect it from paint.
For paint, she selects Dixie Belle Silk Paint in Deep Sea, an all-in-one mineral paint that acts as a primer and top coat. Kelley finds the paint easy to apply and notes its excellent coverage after just one coat.
Once the first coat dries, she lightly sands the surface with 240 grit sandpaper to ensure a smooth finish before applying a second coat.
Step 6: Staining the Top
After the paint has dried, Kelley removes the tape and stains the top of the dresser using Minwax stain in Early American. She finds that the brown tone complements the blue paint beautifully.
Step 7: Adding New Hardware
For the finishing touch, Kelley selects adjustable gold handles from Amazon, which add a modern flair to the dresser. She explains how to attach the handles securely.
Step 8: Sealing the Finish
Finally, she seals the stained top with Walrus Oil Furniture Butter, completing the transformation of the dresser into a stunning centerpiece.
Conclusion
Kelley expresses her satisfaction with the final result, highlighting the combination of the blue paint, gold accents, and beautiful wood top. This project not only taught her valuable lessons but also ignited her passion for furniture flipping, encouraging her to take on more projects in the future.
