Expert: Jamie Yocono - 11/5/2009

Question
hi, i have a light wood TV stand, and i would like to turn it into a cherry dark wood.
is there any type of finish or something that i can buy?

Answer
Paige,

In order for your TV stand to be stained darker, you will have to strip off the existing finish to expose the raw wood. I would start by sanding with 100 grit sandpaper, then 180 grit. Be careful if your TV stand isn't solid wood. If it's veneer, you are liable to sand right through the veneer into the substrate (core) material. So you want to sand lightly, just enough to remove the existing finish.

Once the wood is stripped, I suggest a MinWax stain. Their brand is a good one - easy to apply, and rich in color. Choose that darker cherry color, and apply it according to the directions on the can. Once it dries, if the color is too light for your taste, you can apply a second coat of stain.

Finally, you will want to re-seal that wood. A nice satin sheen polyurethane is a good choice. Buy a good brush, it really does make all the difference in the world. You can even thin down the first coat a bit, to get it to flow better on the wood. If you thin it, you may want two coats. Otherwise, one coat should work fine.

Changing the color of a piece of wood isn't the easiest thing in the world, but it's often pretty rewarding to do it yourself. Also, it's probably cheaper than buying a new piece!

Good luck, write back if you have any more questions.


Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com
My woodworking blog: www.wooditis.blogspot.com