Before staining, bleaching, varnishing or using other types of finish you should ensure that the surface is clean, dry, smooth and free from any old paint or varnish.

To smooth down a flat surface you can use glass paper wrapped around a sanding block. On small curves and fiddly bits wrap small strips of abrasive round a pencil. For larger curves use a sanding glove which you can make yourself.

Preparing The Surface

A powered sander is a boon on large surfaces; use an orbital sander rather than the disc type which is tricky to use without causing scratches across the grain.

Besides getting rid of shallow scratches, sanding will also get rid of cigarette burns and similar marks on the wood surface. However, make sure you don’t sand for too long in one place or you will leave a depression that will show up after finishing.

Large cracks and dents can be filled with wax (from a crayon of a suitable color, for instance) or with a proprietary wood filler. But since stains don’t hide fillers in the same way as paint would, you may decide not to carry out such treatment and to leave the blemishes for an authentic ‘old wood look If you do decide to use a filler, don’t try to smooth it flat as you apply it with the knife or you’ll risk spreading it round — it tends to show up in the nearby grain if it is rubbed in when wet.

Finally, you should make sure the surface is dust-free by wiping it with a clean, dry cloth or a fine brush. It’s a good idea, too, to wipe it with a cloth soaked in turpentine to remove any greasy finger marks you may have left while preparing the surface.