Can you refinish wood furniture without stripping it first?

Some wood furniture can be refinished without going through the stripping process. Refinishing wood furniture this way requires the use of soap and water, mineral spirits and epoxy, where necessary.

Each piece of furniture may require a different technique when refinishing without stripping. Mineral oil is used to help quickly and easily identify flaws in the wood. From there, the furniture should be washed with soap and water and a petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, works well to remove white rings. Missing pieces can be filled in with epoxy putty and sanded down to create a smooth surface. Once repairs are complete, a gel stain and wipe-on wax work well to finish the restoration.