…… Any wood workers around here?

[Josie]

I have inherited a wooden table and chair set. I wanted to place it out in my sunroom. The only thing is that I really, really don't like the color. It's black and totally doesn't fit in with the "light and airy" feeling I want. I figured I'd just paint it and be done with it. However, upon doing some research I found out that the set has supposedly been finished with an oil based stain. I detest oil based anything that needs to be applied with a brush or roller! I much prefer water based and generally latex colors. So is it even possible to paint this set or am I condemned to sticking a table cloth on the table and semi matching cushions on the chairs? Is this going to be a super labor intensive project?

TIA

 

[Illini Warrior]

I have inherited a wooden table and chair set. I wanted to place it out in my sunroom. The only thing is that I really, really don't like the color. It's black and totally doesn't fit in with the "light and airy" feeling I want. I figured I'd just paint it and be done with it. However, upon doing some research I found out that the set has supposedly been finished with an oil based stain. I detest oil based anything that needs to be applied with a brush or roller! I much prefer water based and generally latex colors. So is it even possible to paint this set or am I condemned to sticking a table cloth on the table and semi matching cushions on the chairs? Is this going to be a super labor intensive project?

TIA

is there a coating of varnish over the stain? - otherwise it's more of a paint finish .... basically in either case it's stripper time and then sanding down to bare wood ...

 

[Faroe]

Yeah, sand it down - doesn't have to be perfect, or anywhere near.
Apply a primer coat, and paint the color you want.

 

[imaginative]

Yeah, sand it down - doesn't have to be perfect, or anywhere near.
Apply a primer coat, and paint the color you want.

That'll work. There is also "liquid sandpaper" that you simply wipe the surface down before priming rather than using sandpaper. "Gripper' would be an ideal primer to use. And an airless sprayer or HVLP sprayer would be easier and look better than a brush or roller finish.

 

[Illini Warrior]

in regard to the stripper .... could use all paste or the thinner liquid for the flat surfaces like the table top - but you definitely will want a good stripper cling for the round parts ....

I'd make a decision on the new finish after seeing the wood quality - if you can clean up a nice oak or walnut piece a furniture - more paint would be a pity ...

 

[Josie]

Wow! This is going to be more labor intensive than I first thought! Maybe this inheritance wasn't such a great deal after all. No varnish that I can see on it. I believe that the previous owner planned on using the set in a more exposed to the elements type of setting...hence the oil based stain. Not really sure what kind of wood the set is made of.

I gotta think here. It may be wiser for me to just go out and buy a new set myself.

 

[Martinhouse]

Why don't you look into hiring a furniture refinisher to strip the old stuff off of the set. Then you can finish it the way you like, or hire the refinisher to do that, too.

At the same time, you'll find out if the set is worth the trouble and also you can compare the cost to buying a new set. If it's good quality, it might be worth fixing even if more costly than new, now that even new stuff can be pretty crappy nowadays.

 

[imaginative]

Wow! This is going to be more labor intensive than I first thought!

Not really. If you dont have a paint sprayer- get a few rattle cans (spray cans) of BIN primer at Home Depot (about $5/can) and simply spray over the entire surfaces. Topcoat with a high quality exterior paint.

 

[Faroe]

Wow! This is going to be more labor intensive than I first thought! Maybe this inheritance wasn't such a great deal after all. No varnish that I can see on it. I believe that the previous owner planned on using the set in a more exposed to the elements type of setting...hence the oil based stain. Not really sure what kind of wood the set is made of.

I gotta think here. It may be wiser for me to just go out and buy a new set myself.

My mother used to repaint furniture all the time. (so did the lady across the street from us) None of it was *good* furniture in the sense of nice old antiques, but just sturdy, functional pieces.

My suggestion is to just give the existing finish a light overall sanding to put some tooth on it, so the latex will stick better. You don't have to take it all off - just ruff it up a bit. Then, like I said, coat with a primer, and finish with your paint. Disposable sponge brushes can work well for this sort of job. Plain, clean colors can look very Scandinavian (What was that illustrator's name?...Carl, something?) I also like the effects you can get with streaked or crackle antiquing, and stenciling.

Since you are not trying to get it back to the original wood, it doesn't have to be all that time consuming.