Old Kitchen Chair Project

Homesteading & Country Living Forum

Help Support Homesteading & Country Living Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Peanut

Awesome Friend
Neighbor
HCL Supporter
Joined
Dec 16, 2017
Messages
19,945
Location
Bama
I've been mulling this over for several months, seen a few videos. See, my whole house is too dark, brown wood paneling from the 70’s, most of my furniture is oak and kchen cabinets are very dark. I’m thinking of painting my Kchen table and chairs a light color. I know several of you have done such projects many times and wanted your thoughts.

My grandpa bought the kitchen table I use, probably ‘74. It has 2 leafs and 6 chairs. Nothing fancy, big brown and ugly. The chairs are the same. I want to start with the chairs. They are fairly decent chairs. I’m thinking I get a different kitchen table later so it can wait. Painting the lower kchen cabinets would really help also.

I assume I begin by using a paint stripper on them? I don’t even know the best steps to take.

Problem, I’m really bad with a paint brush so have avoided it when possible. Got me thinking, I saw a video of a guy with a $13 paint gun from harbor freight. I have an air compressor in the shop so why not? Anyone ever painted furniture this way? I know my uncle uses paint guns in his cabinet shop.

Thoughts?

Kchair 03 a.JPG
 
I've been mulling this over for several months, seen a few videos. See, my whole house is too dark, brown wood paneling from the 70’s, most of my furniture is oak and kchen cabinets are very dark. I’m thinking of painting my Kchen table and chairs a light color. I know several of you have done such projects many times and wanted your thoughts.

My grandpa bought the kitchen table I use, probably ‘74. It has 2 leafs and 6 chairs. Nothing fancy, big brown and ugly. The chairs are the same. I want to start with the chairs. They are fairly decent chairs. I’m thinking I get a different kitchen table later so it can wait. Painting the lower kchen cabinets would really help also.

I assume I begin by using a paint stripper on them? I don’t even know the best steps to take.

Problem, I’m really bad with a paint brush so have avoided it when possible. Got me thinking, I saw a video of a guy with a $13 paint gun from harbor freight. I have an air compressor in the shop so why not? Anyone ever painted furniture this way? I know my uncle uses paint guns in his cabinet shop.

Thoughts?

View attachment 71806
I have done the oposite.

Sand blasted the paint of fine sanded stained and polyurethane.

Sand blasting will get into all of the recesses.

Ben
 
With the money I'd pay for a Wagner paint gun and a sandblaster I could buy a new table and chairs. I'm looking to do this on the cheap for a cheap table and chair set. I knew @Weedygarden does this sort of thing on the cheap. I have plenty of room in the shop to do all the chairs at once. (after I move junk around).

I was thinking painting them white would be the best choice also.
 
My daughter and I have repainted a few things. I have stripped pieces with chemical paint stripper. It is messy and takes a long time. I have an oversized front door. I came home from work every day and worked on it for a full month, with a chemical stripper. House is 130 years old, so it had a few layers of paint on it.
I prefer using an orbital sander, and depending on the finish, using a fine grit. If the previous finish is thicker, I like to start with a coarse grit and then work down to a fine grit. I clean up the dust and then paint. Depending on how large the surface is, I usually use a couple cans of spray paint. The options in spray paints keeps improving and expanding.
 
We use those little paint sprayers from HF at work. Had a professional painter tell us that's the way to go unless you are going to do it for a living. My preference is wood furniture - it's really difficult to un-paint things. Once you paint them, you have to keep painting them. Just my 2C. I would add light drapes or maybe paint a wall. (feel free to ignore my opinion :0))
 
Those chairs n table most likely have a laquer finish. To refinish with paint , wash them with warm soapy water n dry. Let them air dry a day. Use a piece of green scotchbrite to prepare the surface. Blow off or a vacuum with a brush attachment works nice.
If you have loose joints, in your furniture, you can use wood glue by pressing it into the joint with your finger and using air to push it down into the joint. A straw works well also. Wipe clean with a paper towel. I like to use gorilla glue as it expands in the joint. I put masking tape around the joint so the excess flows on to the tape making clean up easier.
I would spray them. All those rungs. And you will save lottttts of time. And look better I think. I have a 25 buck car paint sprayer or the Wagners are OK. I have trouble keeping mine going. The car paint sprayer cleans easier for me. Use a water based paint.
Or if you wanted to be a bit different than the rest. You could sand certain parts of the table n chairs. By sanding the top you get a 2 tone effect. Use a brass wire wheel on your drill to remove the finish on spindles. I've done a few tables like this.
 
@Aklogcabin The spindles were the puzzle, they were turned on some type of lathe end to end. Sanding them would be a bear. Which is why I was considering stripper. A few spindles are loose, but I have 4ft clamps in the shop and glued one chair up the other day. I hadn't thought of a brass wire wheel for a drill or grinder. thanks.

@LadyLocust I like the way they look now also. But the wall color would be a larger mess to correct. This is where my grandfather lived for many years. He had a wood heater and the stove isn't vented. The dark brown paneling from the 70's is about 10 shades darker than it was originally. I tested a spot a few years ago... it doesn't clean worth a darn!

I'd love to replace it with sheet rock but... All my outside walls are cinder block and the paneling was glued to it. It doesn't come down...

So... gut my entire house to replace the walls with something that can be painted... or ... paint the chairs. I'm a few years away from replacing the walls but can spend $100 on the chairs now so...
 
We use those little paint sprayers from HF at work. Had a professional painter tell us that's the way to go unless you are going to do it for a living. My preference is wood furniture - it's really difficult to un-paint things. Once you paint them, you have to keep painting them. Just my 2C. I would add light drapes or maybe paint a wall. (feel free to ignore my opinion :0))
This used to be me! I have stripped 6 coats of paint off of things. Oak wardrobes, antique wash stand from my grandparents ranch, 6 inch wide Victorian trim and 8 inch wide Victorian baseboard in my house, oversized front door. Since the interior designer came through my home and told me all about what to paint, what colors, etc., I've repainted things. I always loved the look of wood, but the colors of my painted wood (bone is the name of the color), with the color scheme of the walls are great. I would not have thought that I would have liked this a little more than a decade ago.

I'm working on repainting 3 pieces of furniture now: a French provincial desk, a French provincial dresser and a bathroom cabinet. I went to the hardware store yesterday to get more of the paint that I have been using on my furniture that goes with the color scheme of my home. Spray paint rack had paint, but it was definitely not full, and my color was not available. Clerk said it has been on backorder for a while and they have no idea when they are going to get more. So I have furniture on my porch that I do not want to move upstairs in my house until it is painted, but, I don't want it to be out there over the winter.
 
Last edited:
Just to get 40yrs of crud off them. I doubt paint would stick currently.

I'd like to start with clean wood.

Best I've ever used.

Have you got a small pressure washer?

Put this on , let it set a few minutes.
Hit it with pressure washer (best) or a water hose sprayer.

Best ever.
Screenshot_20210912-120651.png

Walmart.

Jim
 
Went to the big town today. HF were out of the $15 paint guns, out at l-o-wes also. Shopped some paints but didn't get paint for this project. I actually have about 5 projects that need paints, stripper and sanding. Today I got a few other items to knock out those projects. I guess I'll order couple of paint guns.

I couldn't find a brass wheel for my angle grinder either but got a couple for my 3/4" hammer drill.
 
Those are beautiful chairs! Hard to find chairs that nice anymore. I'd sell them to someone who likes them, then buy some new chars the color you like.
 
Back
Top