How to Refinish Antique Tables
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4-6 hours
•
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Beginner
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- 50-150
Antique tables can be very beautiful if they are properly taken care of. However, you may find that the antique table that you have has old paint on it or was not taken care of the way that it should have been. Being able to refinish this table will make it look beautiful and valuable. This is something that is not very difficult to do and does not require a lot of materials. You will find that it is well worth it in the end.
Step 1 - Prepare
The first thing that you need to do is lay your drop cloth down on the area where you will work. Choose an area that is well ventilated and not overly cluttered. Put rubber gloves on as soon as you begin to protect your hands from any chemicals that you come into contact with.
Step 2 - Paint Stripper
You are now ready to begin with the paint stripper. Brush this on all surfaces of your table. Apply a thick layer covering the whole table. It is a good idea for you to put a little bit more stripper into the cracks and crevices of your antique table. Make sure that you allow the stripper to sit for at least 30 minutes or up to a full hour. Read the label of the stripper that you got so that you know how long is best.
Step 3 - Remove Paint
Once you have let the paint stripper sit for the allotted time, you are ready to begin to remove the paint. Scrape off all the loosened paint with your plastic blade scraper. You can also use a putty knife for this job. Just make sure that you do this gently as this is an antique that you are working with. If there is still some paint that is sticking, apply another coat of paint stripper and allow it to set. Repeat this process until all of the old paint is gone.
Step 4 - Sand
Get sandpaper that has a very fine grade. Make sure you do not use much pressure and run your sandpaper in the direction of your wood grain. Once you have sanded the table down, apply mineral spirits. Do this on your cotton cloth. You will need to apply this so that you can get rid of all of the residue and the dust. Your table may need to set overnight to dry completely.
Step 5 - Finish Up
You can now stain or paint your table. Make sure that you use a paintbrush with a fine bristle. Move in the direction of the grain as you paint for a great finished look.
Antique tables can be very beautiful if they are properly taken care of. However, you may find that the antique table that you have has old paint on it or was not taken care of the way that it should have been. Being able to refinish this table will make it look beautiful and valuable. This is something that is not very difficult to do and does not require a lot of materials. You will find that it is well worth it in the end.
Step 1 - Prepare
The first thing that you need to do is lay your drop cloth down on the area where you will work. Choose an area that is well ventilated and not overly cluttered. Put rubber gloves on as soon as you begin to protect your hands from any chemicals that you come into contact with.
Step 2 - Paint Stripper
You are now ready to begin with the paint stripper. Brush this on all surfaces of your table. Apply a thick layer covering the whole table. It is a good idea for you to put a little bit more stripper into the cracks and crevices of your antique table. Make sure that you allow the stripper to sit for at least 30 minutes or up to a full hour. Read the label of the stripper that you got so that you know how long is best.
Step 3 - Remove Paint
Once you have let the paint stripper sit for the allotted time, you are ready to begin to remove the paint. Scrape off all the loosened paint with your plastic blade scraper. You can also use a putty knife for this job. Just make sure that you do this gently as this is an antique that you are working with. If there is still some paint that is sticking, apply another coat of paint stripper and allow it to set. Repeat this process until all of the old paint is gone.
Step 4 - Sand
Get sandpaper that has a very fine grade. Make sure you do not use much pressure and run your sandpaper in the direction of your wood grain. Once you have sanded the table down, apply mineral spirits. Do this on your cotton cloth. You will need to apply this so that you can get rid of all of the residue and the dust. Your table may need to set overnight to dry completely.
Step 5 - Finish Up
You can now stain or paint your table. Make sure that you use a paintbrush with a fine bristle. Move in the direction of the grain as you paint for a great finished look.
