The World Can Be A Scary Place

If you recently purchased an antique, wooden table that has chipped paint on its surface and you would like to restore it to its original condition, use the following guidelines to assist you. Once the paint has been removed and you have sanded the wood, add wood stain and varnish to complete the transformation.

Materials

• vinyl tarp
• painter's tape
• paint thinner
• rags
• electric sander
• coarse and fine grit sandpaper
• wood cleaner 
• lint-free cloth
• can of wood stain
• mixing stick
• paintbrushes (various sizes)
• can of clear varnish

​Strip The Paint And Sand The Wood

Place the table on top of a vinyl tarp in a well-ventilated area. Cover the table's legs and hardware with pieces of painter's tape so that they are not exposed to the paint thinner. Pour some paint thinner onto a rag and wipe the table's surface with it. Add more thinner to the rag as needed.

Once most are all of the paint has been removed, secure a piece of coarse grit sandpaper to an electric sander. Move the sander with the grain of the wood until the entire surface has a level appearance and feels smooth when you touch it with your fingertips. Lightly sand the wood with a piece of fine grit paper afterwards.

Clean The Table's Surface And Apply Stain

Clean the table's surface with a lint-free cloth that has a small amount of wood cleaner added to it. Stir a container of wood stain until the product has an even consistency. Use a paintbrush to apply an even coat of stain to the wooden surface. Move the brush with the grain of the wood. If there are any small details in the table's surface, cover them with stain with a thin paintbrush. Wait for the stain to dry and and add a second coat if desired.

Apply A Clear Coat Of Varnish

Stir a container of clear varnish and apply a coat of the product over the stain. Again, move a varnish-covered paintbrush with the grain of the wood. Wait for the varnish to dry. The varnish will help protect the freshly-stained surface and will provide the table with a glossy appearance. Remove the strips of painter's tape from parts of the table. Place the restored table inside of your home and enjoy its beauty. Maintain the table's surface by dusting it occasionally and removing spills and stains with wood cleaner and a lint-free cloth when needed. For more help, contact someone that specialize in specialty furniture restoration.