Sanding gives an old shelf gets new life

wide shot of old Ikea bookscases in dinign room to library makeover — Yikes. The dreaded “before”.

I’m not a huge DIY-er. I’ve just never been that handy. But some do-it-yourself tasks are just too easy – and economical – not to tackle. Last fall, for example, I needed to update bookcases while revamping the dining room – which for years also served as a home office for the Man of the House (MOTH) — into a sitting room for his post-retirement life.

Budget got eaten up with other things, so we decided to simply paint out old faithful Ikea bookcases. Because the surface was slightly glossy and the shelves had seen long use, and because PREPARATION IS EVERYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO PAINTING, I gave them a quick once-over with a sander.

It was an excellent chance to test the cordless Black + Decker detail sander I was sent. It came in pretty handy. It’s got some muscle (12,000 OPM speed – that’s orbits per minute, folks), so the job was done in no time. Once sanded, the shelves were coated in a paint conveniently left over from another project.

ikea bookscaes painted in pale blue and styled with vintage books and decor — You’d never recognize them, right?

A detail finger attachment came in handy for corners. I found it wonderfully light and easy to maneuver, and the dust collection system kept the mess to an absolute minimum. The battery can be used with other items in the same line.

You can get some good tips about buying and using the right sander for the job at Black and Decker

About $80.

More soon on the dining room makeover.