Wagon Trek Part 1: From Exhausted to Exciting

This classic wagon had many miles on it.

The red paint was faded, the frame and wheels rusty and worn, and the wood stained and peeling. But it was a beloved family item for a friend who wanted it brought back to life for future generations. This was a big project since every element needed care.

Step 1: Painting

First, I used 120-grit to sand the removable side panels. Since I was going to be repainting with the same color, I didn’t need to sand to bare wood or prime. However, I did remove loose paint and the varnish, preserving the iconic Radio Flyer® labels.

Then I tested Farmhouse® paint in “Rouge” on scrap wood and discovered it dries almost exactly the same shade as the original Radio Flyer® red. So I painted two coats on the side panels.

For the slats with the labels, I lightly sanded around the decals. Using a tiny brush, I then hand-painted around them to preserve the trademark look.

Following painting, I’d add protective Minwax® Polycrylic with a foam brush.

Step 2: Repair

Next, I tackled the damaged wagon base. First, I peeled off the stained and cracked top veneer with the aid of a putty knife. While I’d hoped the remaining wood could be cosmetically rescued, no such luck. As you can see, it was just too far gone. That meant I needed to add a new piece of wood over the base.

I used my jigsaw to cut a rectangle of 1/4-inch birch plywood to fit over the base. The bolts that drive through the surface to the axles below would hold this sheet in place (along with a pinch of wood glue).

Step 3: Staining

Before re-staining the wagon base, I sanded overall and then applied Minwax® pre-stain conditioner to the dry wood. You can see here (left) how it was already improving the state of the wood.

Next, I rubbed in Minwax® “Golden Oak” stain. It was very similar to the original color. For the new wood sheet, I added a second coat to achieve the right depth of color. This was all followed by Minwax® Polycrylic for protection.