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I used to think old furniture just needed sanding and paint
For years I stripped and repainted every thrift store dresser I found, thinking that was the fix. Then I picked up a solid oak nightstand from a garage sale in Akron for $15, and after three coats of paint the drawers still stuck. A woman at the hardware store told me to check the runners and glue them first, and the whole thing worked perfectly. Now I realize most people skip the simple structural fixes and just cover things up. Has anyone else found that fixing the mechanics first saves more time than a fresh coat of paint?
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henryreed1mo ago
Push back hard on this one. Painted a maple dresser last month for my cousin and didn't touch the runners at all, just sanded and slapped on two coats. Drawers glide fine and it looks great in her apartment. @wells.brooke probably spends more time gluing old junk than actually finishing projects. Plus if you glue runners too tight you warp the wood and then you're really screwed. Not everything needs a full restoration job.
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