My New Desk

Here is a picture of my new computer desk!  I can't believe how well it turned out for just about $20 (and we will have plenty of stain and polyurethane left over for other projects which will make them free)

It fits in the room so much better than the old one.  Trust me.  I was going to get a picture of the other one, but while I was at our women's conference today my precious husband moved it out (well over at least) and set up this one for me.  Isn't he wonderful.  I didn't even ask him to!  Which is why there are lots of cables and things still out.  He hasn't had time to completely organize, but he assures me that they won't be seen and that most will be hidden under the bed.

The desk really feels (and smells) like a new piece of furniture!  And as I am typing I just can't stop feeling the smooth, shiny surface.  We have stained a couple of other cheap pieces of furniture, but none has turned out this well!  (I am glad we got our practice in on those.) 

So, learn from our mistakes if you ever attempt staining:
1. It is not as hard as everyone makes it out to be, so don't be intimidated and don't live with a piece of furniture you don't love when you can stain or paint it! (Although a garage does make the process much easier, because you do not have to finish all in one day or risk leaving the piece outside)

2. (I think I have already shared this one)  Try to skip the power sander if possible, start with hand sanding and if that doesn't work or is too incredibly hard try the power sander.  We can no longer really see the damage the sander left but I was very worried until we were completely done.

3. DO NOT use the stain with the polyurethane already mixed in.  We tried this with the other things we have stained, because we though it would be eaiser.  It doesn't work the same!

4. Follow ALL directions on the can!!  However, you may need to leave the stain on a little longer than it says if you want the wood to be really dark.

5.  After applying the first coat of poly. the directions say to lightly sand.  This does not mean to just scuff up the surface for the next coat (I was afraid to sand too much).  You need to make sure the surface is completely smooth, but don't sand enough that you are getting through to the wood and taking off color.