When Things Don’t Go as Planned

If you’ve been flipping or refinishing furniture for a while, you already know that not every project goes as planned. No matter how much experience you have, there will be times when your vision simply doesn’t materialize. That was exactly the case with this particular furniture makeover. However, as with most things, persistence and problem-solving can turn an unexpected outcome into a rewarding finish.

Materials and Tools Used in this Project

SurfPrep 3”x4” Electric Ray Sander
Dewalt Orbital Sander
Graco TrueCoat 360 Variable Speed Sprayer
Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel - Tricorn Black
Sherwin-Williams Extreme Bond Primer
General Finishes Smokey Gray Glaze
Varathane Polyurethane Matte
Hula Home Mist Bottle
Five Inch Deck Brush
Small broom
Bondo All Purpose Putty
DAP Wood Filler
Vevor Spray Tent

A Simple Goal

This project started with a simple goal: updating a dresser by removing its trim and possibly replacing the legs to give it a fresh, modern look. At first glance, the task seemed straightforward, but as the work began, complications arose. The trim wasn’t easy to remove, and once it was off, it left significant damage that needed to be repaired. This meant extensive patching with Bondo, a process that added more time and effort than anticipated. The top also had “crumb catcher” lines in the top that I also wanted to fill in to give it a solid surface. Sanding also became a crucial step, requiring different tools—an orbital sander for large surfaces and my SurfPrep sander for smaller, detailed areas. As it turned out, my sanding job was not nearly as perfect as it needed to be as I later discovered.

Prep Done; Let’s Prime

Once the repairs were complete, the dresser was prepped for priming. Using Sherwin-Williams Extreme Bond Primer and a Graco sprayer, the base coat was applied. But as the project moved forward, another challenge emerged: black paint. While black can create a sleek and modern look, it is also unforgiving, revealing every small imperfection. Despite careful sanding and patching, more touch-ups were needed after the first coat highlighted unexpected flaws. This led to a change in approach—switching from spraying to hand-painting with a high-quality brush to achieve a flawless finish.

More Misery

In an attempt to add depth and character, a gray glaze was introduced over the black paint. The goal was to create a subtle streaked effect, but the glaze didn’t behave as expected. Instead of blending smoothly, it left uneven patches that made the dresser look like it had a poorly applied paint job rather than an intentional finish. Despite efforts to adjust the application by thinning the glaze with water, the results were not up to standard. In the end, the entire piece had to be resprayed black to correct the experiment.

Patience Pays Off

Although the final result wasn’t what was originally envisioned, the dresser turned out beautifully. This project was a lesson in patience, flexibility, and problem-solving. Every mistake provided an opportunity to learn, and in the end, everything was fixable. Furniture refinishing is a journey, and sometimes, the best results come from unexpected detours.

If you’re tackling your own furniture projects, don’t be discouraged when things don’t go as planned. Mistakes happen, but with persistence and adaptability, you can still create something you’re proud of.