Faux Walnut Dresser Refinishing
Step-by-step guide made from Black Sheep House's YouTube video.
Learn how to transform an old, damaged dresser into a high-end piece with a faux walnut finish. This project involves repairing the furniture, creating a textured base with primer, and layering paint and gel stain to achieve a realistic wood grain effect inspired by Amber Interiors.
- Difficulty: intermediate
Safety
- Always work in a well-ventilated area when using products like Bondo, stains, and polyurethane. Wearing a respirator and gloves is recommended.
Must know before you build
- Use Super Glue Gel for MDF repairs; it absorbs better than liquid glue.
- Apply Bondo glazing putty with a razor blade for smoother finish, less sanding.
- Create base wood grain texture with Stix bonding primer or high-build primer.
- Thoroughly mix chalk paint by pouring and stirring entire contents for true color.
- Alternate watered-down and straight gel stain for a natural, varied wood grain.
- Foam applicators are paramount for thin, drip-free polyurethane top coats.
Tools
- Pliers (slip joint pliers) (optional)
- Drill/Driver (cordless impact driver, RYOBI, 18V)
- Industrial degreaser (degreaser, ZEP, industrial strength)
- Orbital Sander (random orbital sander, Bosch)
- Shop Vacuum (optional)
- Putty knife (single-edge razor blade)
- Wood graining tool (rubber wood graining tool)
- Razor blade (single-edge razor blade) (optional)
- Paint brushes (paint brush)
- Foam brushes (foam applicator)
- Small scrub brush (optional)
- Lint-free cloths or paper towels (lint-free cloth)
Materials
- Drawer guide replacement parts (plastic drawer guide replacement parts)
- Super Glue Gel
- Bondo All-Purpose Putty (Bondo)
- Bondo Glazing & Spot Putty (Bondo)
- 120-grit sanding discs (ceramic blend, Diablo, 120-grit)
- Stix Waterborne Bonding Primer (Stix)
- Waverly Chalk Paint (Waverly, color hazelnut)
- Varathane Water-Based Gel Stain (Varathane)
- Sherwin Williams Grounded (SW 6089) paint (Command paint, Sherwin Williams, color Grounded (SW 6089))
- Minwax Oil-Modified Polyurethane (amber color, 1 gal)
Step by step
Step 1: Initial Repairs and Prep
The process begins with fixing a broken drawer, removing old hardware, repairing peeling veneer with super glue, filling holes with Bondo, and thoroughly cleaning the entire piece.
- Fix Drawer Guides. Remove the broken drawer and replace the damaged plastic and metal guide components on both the drawer and the dresser frame to ensure it slides smoothly.
- Tip: Replacement drawer guide parts are readily available online from retailers like Amazon.
- Remove Hardware and Repair Veneer. Unscrew and remove all existing knobs and pulls. Then, apply super glue under any bubbling or peeling MDF veneer to secure it back to the particle board core.
- Fill Old Hardware Holes. Mix and apply Bondo all-purpose putty to fill the old holes from the hardware you removed. Overfill the holes slightly to ensure a flush surface after sanding.
- Clean the Dresser. Thoroughly clean all surfaces of the dresser with an industrial-strength degreaser to remove any dirt, grime, or oils that could prevent the new finish from adhering.
Step 2: Sanding and Final Surface Prep
The repaired areas are sanded smooth, the entire piece is scuff-sanded, and any final minor imperfections are filled with glazing putty.
- Sand Repaired Areas. Use an orbital sander with 120-grit sandpaper to sand the Bondo-filled holes and glued veneer areas until they are smooth and flush with the surface.
- Apply Glazing Putty. Apply Bondo Glazing & Spot Putty to any remaining small nicks, dings, or scratches. This product is great for fine surface imperfections and dries quickly.
- Tip: Bondo Glazing & Spot Putty is excellent for minor imperfections and requires very little sanding.
Step 3: Prime and Create Base Texture
A high-build primer is applied, and a wood graining tool is used while the primer is wet to create a textured base for the faux finish.
- Apply Bonding Primer. Brush on a coat of Stix high-build bonding primer. This type of primer is thick and will hold the texture you're about to create.
- Create Texture with Graining Tool. While the primer is still wet, drag a wood graining tool across the surface in long, straight strokes to create a subtle wood grain texture.
- Tip: A high-build primer is key for this step as it's thick enough to hold the texture from the graining tool.
Step 4: Apply the Base Color
A coat of Waverly chalk paint in 'Hazelnut' is brushed over the entire dresser as the base color for the faux walnut look.
- Paint the Dresser. Apply one even coat of Waverly chalk paint in the color 'Hazelnut' over the entire textured and primed surface of the dresser and drawers.
- Tip: Pour the chalk paint into a separate container and stir well before use, as the pigments tend to settle at the bottom of the jar.
Step 5: Apply Gel Stain
Varathane gel stain in 'Dark Walnut' is applied and manipulated with various tools to create a realistic, multi-tonal wood grain effect.
- Apply Gel Stain to the Body. Using a chip brush, apply Varathane gel stain in 'Dark Walnut' to the body of the dresser, following the direction of the grain texture created earlier. Use a small brush for detailed areas.
- Apply Stain Layers to Drawers. On the drawer fronts, start with a thin, watered-down layer of the gel stain. Follow this with a second, slightly thicker layer applied with a chip brush to create streaks and color variation.
- Create Grain with Tools. While the second layer of stain is still wet, use a wood graining tool and a small scrub brush to manipulate the stain, creating a realistic, non-uniform wood grain pattern on the drawer fronts.
- Tip: To create a less uniform, more natural look, make some grain patterns wide and others narrow, and vary the patterns from drawer to drawer.
Step 6: Apply Toning Wash
A final, thin wash of a darker brown paint is applied over the entire piece and wiped back to unify the tones and add depth to the finish.
- Apply 'Grounded' Color Wash. Apply a very watered-down wash of Sherwin Williams 'Grounded' paint over the entire piece. Brush it on and then gently wipe it back with a soft, lint-free cloth to blend and tone the finish.
- Tip: Water based gel stain and glaze are essentially the same thing so the description is used interchangeably.
Step 7: Apply the Top Coat
A durable, oil-modified polyurethane top coat is applied with a foam brush to protect the new faux finish.
- Seal the Finish. Apply three to four thin coats of Minwax Oil-Modified Polyurethane with a foam brush, allowing each coat to dry completely before applying the next.
- Tip: This specific polyurethane has an amber tint, which adds warmth and contributes to the authentic wood look.
- Tip: Applying multiple thin coats creates a more durable and even finish than one thick coat.