4 Beginner Tools You Need to Start Flipping Furniture Now – A Checklist
Beginner Tools for Flipping Furniture
So, you want to start flipping furniture?! Welcome to the club!
This post is outlining all the essentials you’ll need to get started doing furniture flips and furniture refinishing. First, I’ve included a list of basic beginner tools that show everything you need to get started.
The next list is for products and materials that are ideal to have on hand. The materials and products listed are about $100 total. Having everything on the materials list will eliminate your need to run to the store mid-project. However, read each description of the materials to see what you will need for your project if you want to plan ahead to save money.
Lastly, the equipment list includes big-ticket items or investment pieces for your workshop.
Okay, let’s start with some easy tools that you will need to get started on your furniture projects.
TOOLS For Flipping Furniture
- Screwdriver or drill to remove hardware, or disassemble a piece of furniture, doors, etc.
- Brushes, rollers, or spray guns to apply primer, paint, or stain. There are so many options. I always prefer to cut in with a brush and then go in with a roller on the large surfaces. I’ve never had the luxury of using a sprayer, but have only heard amazing things. It’s all preference!
- Sandpaper or an electric sander is used to prep your project furniture for paint or to fully remove the old finish before refinishing.
- Paint cups with a spout(!!) if using a brush, these are very handy for not getting your wet brush or drips on any other surfaces.
- A mallet for hammering the paint or stain cans closed, which is best practice for keeping materials lasting as long as possible.
Products and Materials For Flipping Furniture
- Stripper or CitriStrip are other ways to remove the existing finish, vs sanding. For most projects, you will need to sand after this step. The stripper can help to speed up the process so that you aren’t sanding for hours.
I also prefer to use a chemical stripper when working with lead paint. Anytime I’m working with antique painted furniture I assume that the paint is lead-based. To avoid putting lead paint particles into the air, I will use a chemical stripper to get most of the paint off. Then, I’ll go back in with the electric sander to smooth it all out. - Krud Kutter or mineral spirits are chemicals used for getting that first layer of “grime” off. If you are painting wood furniture, you can use one of these products to prep and clean the surface of gunk before a light sanding.
- Polycrylic is my trusted favorite. When I first started flipping furniture, I used wax to seal and protect all of my projects. Although I do like wax for smaller projects or to achieve a certain effect (such as antiquing or white wax), polycrylic is better for larger pieces. Plus it’s durable and stands up to pretty much everything.
- Paint, primer, or stain – the main event! After all the prep work, this is the fun part. When it comes to painting furniture, my favorite is Duration from Sherwin Williams. It goes on so smoothly, even with a brush.
My favorite stains are water-based Min Wax, it’s all I’ve ever used, and I have no reason to switch. Love it. - Canvas or plastic drop cloth is essential for keeping your workspace clean and tidy. I always use canvas but recommend getting a plastic drop as well that you can layer under the canvas, just in case.
- A furniture dolly was one of the best $15 investments I made in my garage workshop. If you don’t have one, you’re going to be stuck picking things up that are heavy and struggling to maneuver to get to the legs or details of the furniture while you work. A dolly just…rolls it around. Genius. 😉
Beginner Equipment for Flipping Furniture
- Vacuum. A good ole shop vac. When you first get a piece of project furniture, task #1 is cleaning it. Nothing is worse than dust and cobwebs in your work area, on your project, or in your paint. Use a shop vac to remove all the debris. Pro-tip, when you remove the drawers, vacuum inside the furniture where the drawer was, and vacuum the entirety of the drawer to clean it up quickly.
- Workbenches aren’t necessarily required, but they sure will help a lot. Stay organized and clutter-free to be the most efficient in your furniture projects. Here are two affordable ones that I like.
Ikea
Home Depot - Cabinet for storage so you can hide the mess away when you’re done.
next steps
That’s it! Again, this is just a list of the most common materials, products, beginner tools, and equipment that you can use as a checklist to create your own furniture flipping workspace. As you get started with your furniture makeover projects, you’ll learn what products and tools you like working with best. My hope is that this checklist gives you somewhere to start from.
If you are looking for ideas on where to start with your beginner furniture flipping tools in hand, my furniture makeover guide will walk you through all the options for furniture flipping projects. Good luck, and don’t forget to comment and let me know what you make in your new workspace!