Sterlingworth Mixed Stain Dresser

A really cool couple gave us an opportunity to work on this amazing dresser!  Mixing stains gives you the opportunity to create the perfect color and design for your space. Even though we have tried this particular stain mixture on a couple different projects, we feel like the result has been a little bit different every time.  Making each piece truly unique.  ​

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Before we get to the steps needed to mix the stains, you'll need to gather the following materials: 

• Purdy 3-Pack Polyester-Nylon Blend Angle Sash Paint Brush Variety Pack
• Fusion Mineral Paint - Color (Ash)
  • We purchase our Fusion Mineral Paint from a store in North Carolina called The Weathered Soul Shoppe.  You can buy Fusion Mineral Paint from a number of vendors in various locations, but we have found that The Weathered Soul Shoppe ships the paint quickly and has fantastic customer service.  The paint is a little bit pricey, but it provides a really great finish and has self-leveling features that reduces brush strokes.
• Minwax Cherry Oil-Based Interior Stain
• Minwax Gray Oil-Based Interior Stain
• One small and one large tupperware containers
  • We just use some old ones that we have in the cabinet (check out the pictures at the bottom of our list).  
•  Minwax Polycrylic Satin Base 32 fl oz Polyurethane
  •  Unlike oil-based poly that goes on clear, this will go on milky, but we have honestly been very satisfied with the result thus far.
• Stain and Polyurethane Brush
  • There are many options for applying stain to the wood.  However, we have found that using a stain brush allows for more control over the application process.  Please make sure that you have an old rag around so you can wipe up any excess stain that may have dripped on to areas of the dresser that you do not wish to have stained and any stain that may have dripped on to the floor.  
• Bosch 2.5-Amp Orbital Sander
  • Just remember, this is a staple item that will continually be used, so you can utilize this on a ton of DIY projects after you make the purchase.  We decided on the Bosch sander because of the quality of the Bosch brand; however, you can probably get away with a cheaper option if you don't want to invest in a nicer sander, and if you only plan on doing a few DIY projects with it.  
• Gator 50-Pack 80-Grit 5-in W x 5-in L 8-Hole Hook and Loop Sanding Disc Sandpaper
  • Depending on the type of stain that the original manufacturer of the dresser used, you may be able to get away with just sanding down the dresser without using any type of stain remover (This is huge, because stain removers are a pain).  Just keep in mind that if the dresser is not solid wood, then you may want to go with a more gentle approach; i.e., a combination of stain remover and hand sanding.  
• Frog Tape Trim Painter's Tape
  • Frog tape is a life saver if you are going for a more professional look.  Generally speaking, it is a time consuming task to tape up the dresser, but you will be happy that you did when you see the finished product.  ​

Step 1: Removing Original Finish

We sanded the body and the drawers down. As we usually do, we start our sanding process with our orbital sander using an 80 grit sandpaper.  Then, we use 60 grit sandpaper to make sure all of the original finish has been properly removed.  Finally, we hand sand with a 120 grit sandpaper to get a smoother wood before applying paint. .  This process seems to be extremely effective in putting the dresser in its bare bones state.  Make sure you wash it off with a damp cloth so that there is not any dust or residue left on it. Once it is dry, it is time to tape around the edges! ​

Step 2: Taping the Dresser

Before we painted the drawers and the body of the dresser, we made sure to tape the inside of the of the body and the inside of the drawers.  It is always important to remember to tape the inside of the body where the drawers slide in and out, and the inside portions of the drawers where paint might drip/or the paint brush might touch.  We will admit that this is not a necessary step, but if you want to have a re-purposed dresser that looks professional grade, then every detail matters.

Step 3: Staining the Drawers

Sydney found an old Tupperware container in the kitchen, and she used that to hold the stain she mixed since she used a small quantity. For this custom stain, Sydney combined the stain with equal ratios. She poured about 1/3 cup of cherry and 1/3 cup of grey stain into her container. Then, she mixed the colors together with a plastic spoon. This amount provided her with more than enough stain to finish the drawers, so you can use a smaller amount if you are trying to be really conservative.

Tip: As you apply the mixed stain to the drawers, it is important to stain them all at one time so that they turn out the same. Be aware that the color, type, density, etc. of your wood can change the outcome of your dresser. You can see how we did the same thing on our Twin 2 Dresser, this mixed stain project,  and the Broyhill project, but the colors were very different from this dresser. ​

Step 4: Painting the Body

After we were finished with taping the dresser, we painted the dresser using Fusion Paint. We usually do two coats of paint to make sure that everything is sufficiently covered. We generally use Purdy paint brushes so that we can ensure that we get an excellent finish. ​​

Step 5: Applying Finish

After the paint was dry we were ready to apply a coat of water based Polycrylic to both the body of the dresser and the drawers.  After the first coat we sanded down the dresser using 320 grit sandpaper, then we applied a second coat of Polycrylic​.  The picture below shows what the table looked like after we sanded down the first coat (make sure you wipe off the sanding dust with a damp cloth before applying the second coat of Poly).

The End.

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