A liquid sander/deglosser might get the finish off without sanding? I am wondering because I don't want to have to sand around all those spindles. I want the chairs badly but not if it is going to be a lot of work.

Restaining successfully depends upon the finish on the chairs. If you don't get it all off, you may have problems because it may not be oil-based like stains. One way to avoid this is to first use an oil-based poly on the whole thing. It serves as a bridge between what is on there and the staining product you use. I don't know how this will hold up to feet scraping and climbing on and off. To really be sure of durability, I think you have to sand down ALL of the finish and start from scratch.
Diane

It is usually best practice to sand down the wood that you want to stain first. You get the best results that way, but I do think there are products you can get that may allow you to cut that corner, like powermuffin suggested. I would probably try your local hardware store and see what they think.

There are chemical strippers (I think the one I used was called CitriStrip or something like that) that do take off the finish, but, boy, it doesn't come off like magic. You still have to use alot of elbow grease, and small tools (plastic scrapers and toothbrushes) to get at all the tiny nooks and crannies. I did a dining table with only a few decorative elements, and it was alot of work, but worth it in the end. I guess it depends how much your time is worth and what the piece of furniture is worth to you.

some people on the kitchen forum used gel stain on their cabinets and they turned out well. Igloo chic started using it on paneling .
I dont think they sanded much if at all,maybe just to degloss. you may want to do a search or post the question regarding gelstain and sanding first.

parkejo, anyway you look at it, it's work. Hard work at that. I've been refinishing wood for decades. Personally I think Minwax Polyshades is a pain in the rear and never looks like a quality finish. I've tried it a few times thinking it was me that I just had to try harder. Each time I've been very disapointed. But then I'm very picky when it comes to wood finishes.

I prefer to use a furniture refinisher. It's not as harsh as a striper and you don't have to go down to bare wood. No scraping so there's no chance of damaging the piece you're working on. I use a refinisher found with the paint thinners at Home Depot. I can't remember it's name off the top of my head. It's not as smelly so I can get by without having to wear our respirater. I do wear gloves meant for working with this type of chemical though.

You basically clean the item to be refinished. Use #0000 steel wool dipped into the refinisher and rub onto wood. Not near the elbow grease as stripping takes. Make sure you read back of can for more details but once you've gone over the whole piece you let it dry. Once dry add the oil based stain.
If I think of it tomorrow I'll see if I can find pictures I have of a table I redid this way for our daughter.
~Becky

Justgotabme- I would love to see the pictures. I really like these stools and just thought that sanding would be too much work. I have a dresser and nightstand that I need to sand and restain the tops because of wear so I might try that refinisher on those and see how I like it.

I am not a DIY and haven't redone furniture in thirty years at least. I really like these stools, what about giving them a distressed look in black to make them look old and wore? I love that look, just a suggestion.

But whatever you do, they are good looking stools.

I am just changing the color of my barstools as we speak, hands covered in stain of course! The style and price of the stools was right but unfortunately the color wasn't! The wood had yellow/gold tones that didn't work in my dark cherry/mahogany home.

I have stripped furniture to restain many times and used gel stain before. I was disappointed in the gel stain results (looks fine until direct sunlight hits it and then every brush stroke shows).

The photo belows shows my current project with one coat of Minwax Polystain on it. I don't expect the finish to be as perfect as if I had stripped the furniture but I am quite pleased so far with the results of a very quick and easy process!

Good luck with the restaining project. You should be able to get the results you desire, it just depends how much time and effort you have to put into it!

{{!gwi}}

sis3 - That's what I want to see. I will check out that product next time I'm in Home Depot.

I am taking the plunge and going to buy the stools. We are moving in less than 3 weeks and we need higher stools in the new house. With moving though they might stay a lighter shade for a while because I will be busy packing and unpacking. Once I refinish them I will post a picture.

Have them professionally stripped and stained. The amount of effort required to sand evenly those and that many chairs would not be worth it to me as a DYI. Get some quotes. Dip and strip and restain may be more economical and longer lasting in the end.

sis I want to see close ups and details of exactly how you did your chair! It looks gorgeous. What stain color did you use? What aplicator and anything else that will tell how your's look so good. I've been refinishing furniture for years and know it takes time. I'm doing something wrong when it comes to the polyshades and would love to know what it is since I really love the idea of staining and poly all in one product! I've always been happy with Minwax products so I know it's not them! It's ME!

Parkejo, I had a senior moment, or was afraid I was, so I started a new thread about using furniture refinisher. I didn't trust my memory of who it was that I posted about the table to. Your name came to mind, but figured since other's may like to see the pix too I'd just start a new thread. It's linked below....
~Becky

Here is a link that might be useful: furniture refinisher before and afters

These are the finished counter stools and there are 2 matching bar stools too. The finish can't match a stripped, re-stained and clear finished piece but it is good enough for me on this furniture. Had I used the stripping method I would still be very much in the stripping and sanding phase, with staining and poly-ing awaiting, but this way the stools are done and back in use and I am confident no one will ever be aware that they have been refinished!

I used the Bombay Mahogany shade of the Polystain. I am delighted with the color match to my cabinets. On my monitor the color in the second photo is much more accurate.

I think there are two key factors to a good result. One is to use a good brush (it seemed like I was trying to apply the stain with a garden rake at times but I was too impatient to get the job done to go out and buy a new brush! Duh!) and the other is to apply only a very thin coat each time. The instructions tell you this but I think it needs emphasis! This product runs very easily and dries quickly so it is essential that you apply only a thin coat and work fairly quickly. I had to ignore the phone ringing as it is important to keep a wet edge.

Other than that the stain covers well, these stools had one full coat and then a second coat where needed, and it is easy to go back when it is dry to tweak any areas that have not covered to your liking. The finish will not be as durable as a regular stain I am sure, but again touch up is a snap.

If I haven't covered all your questions please ask away.

Whoops! I've been calling the product I used in the project above 'Polystain', but it is actually Minwax 'Polyshades'!