We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. How do you decide if refinishing a piece of furniture is worth the effort? As a professional woodworker, I get asked these questions ...

Reupholstering might be needed as well. Refinishing furniture -- depending on how far you take it -- Hobbyist? Skilled craftsperson? -- will bring you steady work once you establish a reputation.

for one reason. "We live in what we call a 'throwaway world,' and we don't get real new furniture in even to repair it," he said, "because it's press board and (chipboard) and plywood ...