So, I want to paint furniture that is already finished...?
Question:I have some furniture that was bought already stained/finished such as a bookcase, coffee table, and microwave stand and I want to repaint them black. The questions I have are do I need to scuff them? Do I need to put down a primer first even though the wood isn't raw? What type of paint should I use? (I've been thinking oil.) And lastly, do I need to put a finish over the black?
Answers:
You've already gotten some great advice from nickdmd and battledragon6. Oil, yes. Scuff lightly, yes. Topcoat, yes. Primer, only if surface is stained. But don't put yourself through the pain of Kathy A's suggestions.
First of all, you only need to strip the furniture if you intend on re-staining. If you plan to paint, all you need is a smooth clean surface, not bare wood. Besides that, chemical strippers have 2 major downsides: 1. They're chemicals and they have to be neutralized completely before putting any new finish on. 2. They're liquid and they leave the wood wet and raise the grain. So you have to let them completely dry and then sand the grain down anyway.
Have fun with your project!
If you intend to use an oil base paint (and that's really the best choice), you only need to scuff the existing finish a little with a light sanding, then wipe it down. I would use a semigloss black oil, then coat over it when well-dried with a polyurethane of the final finish you desire. That will make the black coat less vulnerable to scratching or scuffing.
Yes you have to scuff them first. You didn't mention what color they are to begin with--if they are a very light color or if you aren't sure about your scuffing ability I would use a primer coat. Especially for something that may have been exposed to grease, cigarette smoke--it'll block any stains or bleed through. Oil based is usually best and with a semi-gloss finish. Definitely put a poly finish over the pieces. Black paint will show up knicks and dings fast if you don't protect it.
you really have to know what you're doing to refinish furniture thats already finished. If you don't know if it's oil or water based stain, you have to test it. Then you have to strip the stain off. ( and it might take forever...) Or you can do it the easy way and take it to a furniture striper and they can do it for you. (costs money, but saves you work in the long run, especially since you'll have to work outside. Striper is toxic.
Then you have to sand the wood down, striping causes the wood grain to come up. After you sand, you have to use tack cloths to get the dust off and make sure they're prefectly clean...
Then you have to get a furniture paint in black.
If you use a sealer, make sure it's not shiny or it will look like 80's plastic. Dull black is in. You also have to make sure you get enough paint on to cover it all and make sure there are no 'spots' you missed with the striper (paint will not take on those spots).
It would have been easier to buy black furniture in the first place...
the last owner of my house stained & varnished every piece of wood trim, baseboards & doors. Be danged if I was gonna sand it all!! I washed it all down with t.s.p. & water, rinsed, let it dry then I put a really good primer/sealer on the works--was probably b.i.n. & I always use latex everything just cuz it's easier to clean up. I used a primer/sealer just in case there were any spots that didn't have varnish on & the stain would have bled thru the top coat of paint.
for furniture I would definitely use a clear minwax polyurethane on top of the paint -if you use latex, that is
Kathy A Rocks!
Here is what you need to do. First DO NOT use OIL based paint it Will turn yellow and it is not flex-able. This is called oxidation. Second sand the surface a little bit. Prime using KILZ premium primer then re paint with 100% acrylic paint such as KILZ Casual color at Wal-Mart. #2 in consumer reports last year.
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