8.20.2013

How to Strip Veneer & a Dresser Makeover

I finally finished a dresser that I found at Goodwill a few months ago!  I fell in love when I saw her, but she definitely needed some work! 

This is how she looks now:

But this is what she looked like when I bought her:
 Two of her drawers had lost most of the veneer, and the third was cracking!
And the top!!  Oh, it was disgusting!  But she had some pretty details that I couldn't resist. 

Normally, when I see furniture with veneer that is cracked or peeling (like this piece), I tend not to even bother with it.  Veneer is not easy nor fun to deal with, in my opinion!!! Ha!
However, I figured a few drawers wouldn't be too bad!  

This is the method I use to strip veneer:
First of all, I get a very damp cloth.  Then, working in small sections,  I lay the cloth over the veneer,  take a hot iron, and press it firmly onto the cloth.  I hold it there for about 30 seconds or so before removing the iron.  
 Then I take my scraper and slowly peel off the veneer.  The moisture from the cloth and the heat from the iron loosens up the glue, making it come off quite easily.  If it doesn't, I go back and repeat the process until it does!  
This method works really well, its just time consuming and tedious!  Not my favorite thing to do!
Anyways, once I removed all the veneer, there was still some glue residue on the drawers, so I sanded them down, getting them as smooth as possible.  

Then she was ready for the fun part!! Although her top was nasty, I loved the dark color, so I gave the top a good sanding as well, and restained it in Minwax's Special Walnut.

I chose Betsy's Linen for the body of the dresser, and went with Shiitake for the drawers.
Then I distressed her and gave her some new knobs!

 I think she is just gorgeous, and worth all that veneer stripping!  
Oh, and I almost forgot...I paid $20 for her at Goodwill, and the knobs cost $14 at Hobby Lobby.
The paint and stain were leftover from other projects, 
so the total cost for her was $34! 


Therena

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Funky Junk Interiors

36 comments:

  1. I love the dark top. And I had no idea that's how you get veneer off...Learned something new!

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  2. She looks great and what a steal of deal. It is amazing what a little elbow grease and paint can do....She looks perfect. Blessings!

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  3. What an amazing transformation Therena! The piece even though refinished kept it's character and that's what makes it spectacular! Thank you for sharing at Fluster Buster party, I'm hosting today!,Have a great week, Lizy

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  4. That is a remarkable change. I thought the dresser I worked on this week was in rough shape but wow, you worked a miracle on that one.

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  5. Wow I can't believe that is the same dresser. You did a great job. I am off to check out the thrift stores today to see what I can find.

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    1. Haha, thanks!! Good luck at the Thrift Store! :)

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  6. Great transformation! Thanks for sharing with us!

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  7. Gorgeous transformation. Goodwill is one of our favorite places to shop too!

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    1. Thanks so much! I know, isn't it the best?!!

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  8. It turned out wonderful! I like you tend to not deal with veneer but just finished up on a secretary that was veneer. Thanx for sharing your dresser make over at THT!

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  9. I am so happy that you told and showed me how to remove veneer. I have a project in my garage just waiting for me to get at and I was stuck on how to remove the veneer that is already on it. THANK YOU LADY :)
    Deedra
    http://www.atmycounter.blogspot.com

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    1. Haha, thanks Deedra!! Now you can get to work lol :)

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  10. I LOVE THIS DRESSER! (yes, I'm yelling!) Thanks for sharing your method! I'll have to try it!

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  11. Wow! You have a lot more patience than me to do this! It looks like it was worth the effort though, it's beautiful.

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    1. I don't really! lol Thats why it took me so long to finish it, I kept having to walk away then come back!!
      Thanks Laura!

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  12. I always pass on pieces with damaged veneer, but you make it look pretty easy to get the old veneer off! Probably still quite a bit of work I'm sure, but doable! This piece turned out gorgeous!! :)

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    1. Thanks so much Christy! It comes off pretty easy once you get the hang of it!

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  13. Great idea ! Love how it turned out ! I saw a piece of furniture with damaged veneer the other day at Goodwill and let it go. Now I will think about it next time I see one. thanks for a great tips !!

    Have a great weekend !!
    Marlin

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  14. Gorgeous! Love how it turned out. Jealous of your talents!

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  15. Wow sees! She is just beautiful! The colors you chose are perfect! She surely was a diamond in the rough.
    Stacey of Embracing Change

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  16. Gorgeous! What a transformation! I'm featuring it in this week's Power of Paint Party Spotlight.

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  17. Therena, You did a great job on this dresser. Even though the veneer was a pain, it looks fabulous. Love it!!

    xoxo
    Denyse

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  18. Your dresser is just beautiful! I featured it today from last weeks Whimsy Wednesday Link Party! http://bit.ly/146ZWOP

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  19. Wow--I'm really impressed with the smooth finish you got on the top. I can't believe how good this turned out considering the bad shape it was in when you bought it. Great job!
    Thanks for linking this up to Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop. I hope to see you back next Sunday night!

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    1. Thanks Carrie! I was definitely surprised with the result too! :)

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  20. The dresser turned out great...love the colors! That was a lot of work! Thank you for sharing it and you new plate wall at What We Accomplished Wednesdays.

    Hugs,
    Deborah

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  21. You were featured on Give Me The Goods! You were also on my FB page yesterday ;) Be sure to stop by and grab a button!
    Jamie @ somuchbetterwithage.com

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  22. Love your makeover, Therena! The colors and the stained top look great. I found your post through Pinterest when I was searching for a way of dealing with veneer. I picked up a pretty round table at an estate sale yesterday but the top has some crackling and I believe it is veneer. I'm going to try your suggestions for removing it before I paint it.

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Thank you for your comments! They brighten my day!

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