DIY Refinishing Oak Stairs-Part 1

Has hell frozen over? Have pigs started flying? I ask because last week I made a purchase that must have happened as a result of one of those two things. Those of you who know me will agree, I'm sure, when I tell what that purchase was.

My Very Own Power Tool

Yes, friends, I purchased a power tool of my very own. It's my first...and only...power tool, or any kind of tool, for that matter. Yes, we have tools at my house. They are Hubby's tools. I don't touch them as a rule. Well, occasionally I touch them. I have been known to screw in a loose screw, or hammer a nail that is sticking out where it shouldn't be. Power tools have been left to Hubby's domain...Well, except for the electric hedge trimmer. I kind of like that one.

Let's get back to MY power tool. It's a variable speed orbital sander. Cool, huh? I bet you are wondering what I am going to do with it, right? Well, I have gotten a bee in my bonnet, so to speak, and have decided I am going to refinish the stairs to the second floor of the house. They are getting a bit worn out and have been calling out to me for a makeover.

I know, you think I have lost my mind. Maybe so, but I'm going to give it a try. I've done my homework, folks. I've watched YouTube videos. I've read carpentry help sites on the Internet. I've talked to Home Depot tool guys. I've talked to stain experts at my local paint store. None of them told me not to do it. None of them thought I was crazy.

I've already spent three hours sanding down three of the stairs with my trusty new orbital sander.

Sanded Stairs

I have made progress, but I fear there are many more hours of sanding...and wiping...and vacuuming...and more sanding in my future. If I'm missing for a while you'll know where I am...sanding...and wiping...and vacuuming...and sanding some more.

Updates on progress in the future...

Enjoy!

Comments

Sisterly LoveJanuary 23, 2012 at 7:19 PM
OMG!!!Someone please tell me who this imposter is...surely this is not my sister? Well maybe, after all you did finally enter a real live fitness gym. I guess power tools were next! What is next a zip line through the Amazon?
ReplyDelete
Replies
RobinJanuary 23, 2012 at 8:04 PM
I too say OMG...is this my BFF who in high school refused to sweat, gym was not her thing. Now she is a gym member and has moved on to power tools. Donna, I congratulate you for being so adventurous and always open for a challenge. xooxooxoox
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

How to Make a Perfect Bacon and Eggs Breakfast

In my opinion, the best breakfast consists of two perfectly fried eggs, crispy bacon, and toast made with hearty bread. This bacon and eggs recipe delivers. Bacon and eggs or eggs and bacon? No matter, it is definitely the breakfast you want on those lazy mornings when you have time to relax around the kitchen table, drinking a cup of coffee or two. The Best Bacon and Eggs Breakfast (This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. When you make a purchase using these links you help support this blog.) How to Cook Bacon and Eggs My technique was learned from my mom, by watching her make our family's breakfast over and over again, year after year. This is a basted egg recipe which means the eggs are cooked in bacon grease. Cooking eggs in bacon fat is easy and takes just a little practice to perfect. All you really need for a great bacon and eggs breakfast is a good nonstick skillet and a good toaster . If you want to make your own bre...

The Best Asian Dipping Sauce You'll Ever Taste

If you're looking for a versatile, easy-to-make Asian dipping sauce perfect for sushi and dumplings, then you've come to the right place. This recipe for the best Asian dipping sauce is perfect for any time you want a kick of delicious Asian flavor. An Asian Dipping Sauce for Sushi and Dumplings Try this if you are looking for a dipping sauce that is a little more flavorful than you typically get with your takeout order. You'll love it with dumplings, too!

Traditional New England Whoopie Pies

Are you searching for the ultimate, classic New England whoopie pie recipe? Look no further! Whoopie pies are a beloved treat, a nostalgic dessert that evokes childhood memories and continues to delight today. My mom would make them for us every once in a while. Oh, what a treat to come home from school to a platter of chocolate whoopie pies! This recipe, inspired by traditional Maine-style whoopie pies, comes from my family recipe box. It delivers soft, chocolatey cakes with a rich, creamy cooked filling – no marshmallow fluff needed! The Best Whoopie Pies Recipe without Marshmallow Fluff This post includes affiliate links. Whoopie pies are essentially handheld cake sandwiches: soft, round, cake-like cookies embracing a luscious, creamy filling. While their origin is debated, New Englanders proudly claim them as their own. This recipe focuses on the traditional Maine-style filling, a cooked flour and milk mixture that creates a uniquely satisfying t...

How to Trap and Get Rid of Fruit Flies

Fruit flies can be a huge annoyance at certain times of the year. What can you do to kill fruit flies? We've all been there wondering how to get rid of fruit flies. Fruit flies in the kitchen. Fruit flies in the bathroom. Fruit flies buzzing around everywhere in your home. It's a frustrating problem that happens to everyone at one time or another. If you are a fresh fruit and produce lover you certainly know what I mean. How to Kill Fruit Flies with Two Ingredients Those pesky little buggers can often be brought into your home on the vegetables and fruit you buy. You don't have to tolerate the annoyance. This homemade fruit fly trap is one I have been using for many years and it works every time.

Five Keys to Growing A Healthy Ficus Tree

Have you ever wondered how a single Ficus benjamina tree could become a beloved part of your home for decades, thriving and growing alongside your family? If you haven’t yet, you might consider the addition of this living, air-purifying companion in your home that not only beautifies your space but also stands the test of time. You may know this tree as either a Ficus benjamina or a weeping fig. I have loved growing a ficus tree in my home for 36 years. It’s remarkable that I've had this tree for so long. How to Grow A Ficus Tree Inside for Decades This post includes affiliate links. I may receive compensation when you use these links. When thinking about how I managed to keep this indoor ficus tree happy, healthy, and growing strong all these years it boiled down to five key Ficus benjamina plant care tips. Follow these tips and you can have a happy, healthy ficus tree in your home for many years, too.

Grandma's Soft and Chewy Date-Filled Cookies

One of the things I can count on as the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons arrive each year is a feeling of nostalgia. The traditional foods we serve at our family's holiday tables can sure bring out all the feels. Now that it is officially cookie season, we should kick it off with an old-fashioned homemade date-filled cookie recipe. This is a soft, tender cookie with dates that is a special, nostalgic, family recipe. An Old-Fashioned Date Cookies Recipe This old-fashioned, date-filled cookie was my dad's favorite cookie from his childhood. My dad was born in 1932 so this recipe has been around for quite a while.

Rum Punch for a Party

As the weather warms and you start to think about gathering friends and family for parties and celebrations you'll want to think about signature cocktails. This rum punch cocktail is an ideal cocktail for a large gathering because the flavors are irresistible. Don't you think a warm-weather cocktail should make imagine yourself sitting by the shore on a tropical beach with your toes in the sand? Fruity rum drinks are perfect and rum punch is one of those perfect cocktails. Cool and fruity, rum punch will make a party! One sip and you'll be transported to the beach. Rum Punch Cocktail (This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. When you make a purchase using these links you help support this blog.) Rum Punch for a Party! Can you make a rum punch ahead of time? This rum punch recipe is a make-ahead recipe I use whenever we are having a large group for a summer picnic or barbecue. Use the recipe below as your baseline and dou...

How to Doctor Up Store-Bought Potato Salad

Here's a potato salad time-saver for you just in time for summer cookouts. You'll love how you can transform grocery store potato salad so easily no matter whether you are hosting a BBQ or bringing a side dish for a summer barbecue. There's no judgment here. We don't always have the time to make a potato salad from scratch. Sometimes it is just easier to stop by your local grocery store to pick up a container of store-made potato salad. It's good. It's predictable. It will do. All it needs is a little doctoring. How to Make Store-Bought Potato Salad Better When you need a quick potato salad, and have no time to make one from scratch, that ordinary store-bought potato salad you have in your refrigerator can go from blah to amazing in just a few minutes with just a few ingredients. Yes, you can improve store-bought potato salad. How to Doctor Up Potato Salad to have a little more flavor? You're going to a potluck picnic or you are having...

Bread Machine Dinner Rolls

Are you looking for an easy dinner roll recipe? The easiest way to make fresh dinner rolls is with your bread machine. Relax while you use the dough setting of your bread machine to get the time-intensive steps out of the way. You'll be delighted with the results of this easy bread machine dinner roll recipe. The best bread machine dinner rolls are the ones you make yourself. How to Make Bread Machine Dinner Rolls This post contains Amazon affiliate links. When you use your bread machine to make dinner rolls most of the work is done by the machine. You'll be delighted with how easy it is to make fresh rolls. While most of the work is being done by the bread machine you can be doing something else.

Cinnamon Raisin Bread: A Bread Machine Recipe

Are you craving a warm, cozy treat perfect for fall mornings? Look no further than this delicious cinnamon raisin yeast bread. Baked in a bread machine, this recipe is incredibly easy to make and offers a classically delightful blend of flavors that's sure to satisfy. Easy Homemade Cinnamon Raisin Bread This post contains affiliate links. Whether you're serving it as a comforting breakfast on a chilly morning or enjoying it as a sweet afternoon snack, this cinnamon raisin yeast bread is a versatile and delicious addition to your fall recipe rotation. Its soft, fluffy texture and warm, inviting aroma make it a favorite among both young and old.

Just~One~Donna

Search This Blog