Remember me telling you about this dining table I found on Craigslist for $50?
What I neglected to say is that I’ve never actually refinished anything before. I’ve finished new wood and painted finishes. I’ve even lightly sanded and refinished a surface without fully taking the first finish off (this vanity top). But I’ve never attempted to try to completely remove the previous finish and start anew.
So this was a challenge for me. I could’ve just painted the whole thing, but I wanted the look and easy care of a wood top (plus, no more tablecloths...). I do like painted bases, though, so I was only challenged by the top, which turned out to be not that hard.
So, without further ado… here’s the table after:
I LOVE how it turned out. I like the darker wood top and the contrast with the creamy white base.
I also like how the plainer pedestals look in our cottage, which was purely happenstance as I was focusing more on size and cost when I was looking on Craigslist.
However, I am having to “embrace imperfection” here, big time. There are little white flecks in the finish and even a small fiber of some sort. I thought I wiped and cleaned before each coat of polyurethane, but I did it in the garage and there must’ve been stuff floating in the air.
But what I’m really embracing is the fact that no one will probably notice these flaws but me. Whew.
Now that you’ve seen the finished product, I just know you’re waiting on pins and needles for me to take you through the step-by-step process so you can find your own table to redo, so here are the details:
I didn’t get a shot of removing the finish on the table top because it’s a messy job and my hands were encased in gloves. It wasn’t hard, though- paint the varnish remover on, wait the specified time, and strip it off with a putty knife.
I then washed it with mineral spirits and steel wool and then sanded it, which is the stage at which the above picture was taken.
Since I was just painting the legs, I only sanded them, and not that much, either- ugh, they were full of crevices and bumps and hard to reach. So glad paint covers a multitude of sins.
I had read a number of blog posts about refinishing prior to this project and one said they wished they had painted before finishing the top, so that’s the order I chose.
I taped off the top with plastic so I could spray paint the bottom. I thought it would give a smoother finish and be a lot easier.
And guess what? It’s true!
It’s not as frugal as painting with a brush, but, oh the time it saves. I was seriously wondering why I had never done this before.
I started with a flat finish primer all over the bottom (one can covered).
Then I sprayed on a paint I had been reading about on all those blogs, too, Rust-oleum’s “Heirloom White.” It really is a great color- just the creamy white color I like.
The table base took one full can to coat and I did two coats. A can is about $3.50 each, so again, not the most frugal, but I think it took a quarter (or less!) of the time versus brush painting. And since I think the smoother finish is nice, this is one area where it makes sense to pay a bit more.
After letting it sit for about three weeks, *uh-hem* I removed the plastic covering the top and gave it another light sanding.
Gee, I’m glad being covered in plastic that long didn’t hurt the wood- that would’ve been a bummer.
The leaf is a different color because it was a darker color when I got it from not being used as much as the main table. Removing the varnish did not even out the color, and I don’t know how long I would’ve needed to sand to get down to the wood, but I decided it wasn’t worth worrying about, and I will just use a tablecloth whenever we use the leaf.
I decided to follow another suggestion I read about and bought this pre-stain to help the darker stain I wanted to apply go on more evenly. Since I don’t know what it would’ve looked like without it, I can’t tell you if it was needed, but this was a large surface and I wanted to get it right, so I didn’t take any chances.
After applying the pre-stain according to the directions, I stained it using “American Walnut.” I put two coats (over a period of a couple days…) on the leaf and three on the table to get the look I wanted.
When that was dry (again, weeks later…sometimes I’m just amazed at how long these things take me!), I started applying the coats of water-based polyurethane. I learned two things applying this:
- Always use a wide foam applicator instead of a brush. I had brush strokes in the middle of the table in the first coat that I spent the next four coats trying to minimize.
- Do long strokes from one side of the table to the other (with the grain), not from one side to the middle and start in the middle of the table and work towards me (yes, I have a shirt with poly on the bottom of it now…).
Oh, wait, that was really three, wasn’t it? Darn.
Do you think I left that plastic bag in the above picture by accident? It’s really to remind me to tell you that I did these five coats of polyurethane over a period of about a week (yes, I know it only takes two hours to dry between coats, but apparently this is how my life rolls right now…) and I was able to keep using the same foam applicator by keeping it in this bag between coats.
Seriously, for a week and it never dried out. Not even on a corner.
So, there you have it- all the steps I took to bring this table from Craigslist throw-out to a dining room beauty (at least in my eyes!).
I didn’t keep exact records, but all the materials probably amounted to about $25. So for a total of $75 dollars, I’ve got a great looking table that fits our needs and most importantly doesn’t need a tablecloth. Whoo-hoo!
What do you think- did I get a deal or do you think I went to far too much trouble?
-Jami
This is linked to:
Favorite Tutorials 2010
&
Transformation Thursday
Frugalicious Friday
Show and Tell Friday
Show Me How (It’s a Blog Party)
Fabulous Friday Finds
Frugal Friday @ Shabby Nest
I believe a cottage can be anywhere or anything (condo, ranch, farmhouse) as long as you have a "cottage mentality" which puts people above things, celebrates imperfections, embraces simplicity, and finds joy in everyday life. Thanks for joining me!
Did those brass foot pieces come off before you painted?
You did a great job. I love it. Your tutorial couldn’t have come at a better time for me, as I have a table that I’m wanting to do about the same thing to this weekend. Thanks for you hints. I was going to brush paint the bottom, but now think I will definately try the spray paint. Seems like it’s worth a little extra cost for the great results.
What a GORGEOUS table! You did a fabulous job. A real beauty!
Blessings!
Gail
wow. this is amazing. great job! inspires me to refinish my 1981 kitchen table. i don’t think a thing has been done to it in the last 30 years!
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Sorry- about the double post! I think your table came out amazing and you got a great deal on it!! I love the finishes you chose!! Enjoy that beauty- Well done! I host a decorating inspiration party at my blog on the weekends if you would like to join sometime.
I love your table!
The table looks wonderful, Jami! I’ve had a farmhouse table for several years that I finally, FINALLY refinished last month. The legs and base were already painted a creamy white and were distressed, so no work was needed there, though I recently used Heirloom White to paint a dresser-cum-bathroom vanity and was very pleased with the finished piece. Anyway, I refinished the top of the farm table by using an orbital sander, which of course made a big mess on my porch, so next time I need to remove a finish, I’ll try a varnish remover like you did. Enjoy the fruits of your labor and thanks for writing this blog. I’ve been reading it for a few months but this is the first time I’ve commented. I always look forward to receiving the email updates that you’ve written a new post!
You got a deal! It turned out so pretty… pretty enough that I’m reconsidering how to finish a couple of re-do’s on my list.
i think you did more then a grand job its beautiful….congrats on having all that patience!!
The top looks great with the stain. We like the Heirloom White, too. It seems like projects always take three times longer than you think they should. I think it’s one of those “laws”. Good Job!
Looks fantastic; great job!
Sue @ Beach Bungalow
so
Great Job! I did my own table too, but got mine from an unfinished wood furniture store. Did this on purpose so that I can refinish in the future after my kids mess it all up with dings and dangs. Looks AWESOME!
WOW! You did a great job!!!!!!!!!!
Anon- I just taped the brass feet before spraying, but I did see little nail-like things, so I bet people “in the know” take them off.
Me? I just tape.
GORGEOUS! Well worth the work and a great deal! It will be loved by your family for years…a “new” heirloom! Love it!
Oh my goodness, Jami, this is BEEEEEEEEAUUUUUUUTIFUL! Wow! And WOW again!
It’s just a total transformation. Incredible. Did I mention WOW?!
And also, that was a really good tutorial.
Thanks so much for your lovely comments about our bedoom linens.
Sarahx
Beautiful! I have come to know that some of those involved jobs to make a house a home, bring the most joy. You will enjoy meals at this table, visit around this table, it is a central point in the room. No, not too involved. Great job on breaking it down into workable steps that fit your needs.
Great job, it looks wonderful, bravo:)
Greetings from Europe, Biljana
Beautiful! Hope the person who sold it to you doesn’t see it – they might want it back.
Nicely done! I eXpect whenever you sit down to dine it will be with a big smile of satisfaction on your face ~ but without a table cloth! ThanX for the inspiration and great tutorial.
WOW – A+
I think you did an amazing job. I’ve never stripped anything before either.
Beautiful piece and great job! I love the cream base with the wood top!
Looks wonderful! Love seeing your projects (especially because you eventually get around to actually finishing them!) Thanks for sharing with us all…
labor of LOVE!!! It’s gorgeous!!!!! You’ll have that forever and be proud every time you sit down for a meal
Kudos to you!!!
I am VERY impressed! Great work!!!