Is it possible to stain a wood table if it is already stained?

Question

I couldn't pass up this little pub set (it is adorable) because it was so cheap, like $250.00 for the table and four stools... but it is in a light maple color (i dont know the color im not a wood person), but it totally would clash with our dining room floor and walls (which are a deep brown)... We wanted to stain it a dark brown or sand it down and paint it black. Is this feasible? Should I go to a store like Home Depot and they would guide me in this type of situation?
Thanks ! (im totally not a DIY kinda girl)

Answer 1

It has to be "stripped" first.
Then you can stain it whatever color you like.
Home Depot can help you with the materials

Answer 2

I'm a wood worker going on 11 years now and the best way I've found to introduce any stain is to sand off the existing stain. This requires some work,but you can minimize the duration of time you spend by using an electric sander. If you haven't much experience with sanders go with a random orbital sander. Using a belt sander eats alot of wood in a big hurry and you can easily ruin a piece by creating steps in the surface without having some time spent on a belt sander. Stain, because it is a thin substance absorbs deep into the grain. This is the place you want to be if you intend to apply a lighter stain however. Start sanding with a course grit like 80-40 grit paper and when you reach the depth where stain no longer exists, switch to a finer grit of paper, like 100-150, then move to an even finer grit; 220- 400. Once you do that use an even finer grit on the end grain, this will give you consistent results in color with the surface color. Stain comes in different forms; paste,liquid. If using the liquid stain be sure to use a wood conditioner before applying the stain. This will allow the stain to penetrate more evenly, rather than soaking into the softer grain and lying on the harder grain. After this you can apply a clear coat. I like to apply three to five coats sanding between coats with a super fine grit to achieve a smooth finished surface. If you decide to just paint the surface, sanding it to the desired smoothness is sufficient enough to apply primer following up with a finish coat of paint. I'm also a painter by profession for 12 years now. Again sand with a fine grit between coats; 220 or higher. Hope this helps!!!

Answer 3

It depends on the type of finish. If it is a thick, commercial polyurethane and you are totally not a DIY girl, sanding it down will be a big chore. Even using a paint stripper will take a lot of work.
Probably an acid bath would be the ideal but you may be trying to keep costs down.
Alternatively, if the finish is a varnish, you can sand and if the wood is exposed, stain in the colour of your choice or then paint. As long as you've got a well scuffed surface and use a (dark) primer it'll paint up fine.
Go to a local hardware. The people at Home Depot are clueless.

Answer 4

Putting stain over an existing stain is not recommended for a proper finish, because #1 you can't control how spotty or streaky the wood will be, especially if you don't want it spotty or streaky, and #2 there is probably some kind of varnish on it to protect the first stain. You must remember that once you start to remove the varnish that some stain will come off. This is where you will get the spotty or streaky if you do not take all of the 1st stain off before you try to put on the next stain.
Recommended: completely sand with a fine grit all over. If you can take the piece apart that makes it easier to sand. The fine grit sandpaper will take off the varnish and some of the stain. Then use an even finer grit to finish taking off the stain entirely. Once its all off, proceed to stain the color of your choice, or don't take any varnish off and skip the staining part, and just put a coat of black paint on top of whatever is there. Painting furniture is way less work than staining!

Answer 5

Absolutely your best thing to do would be to visit Home Depot and go to their Paints and Stains Department, where you will certainly get some good help with the right product for the job, along with other necessary prep. stuff that you will need to either remove the existing stain, or at least treat it in a way that will allow it to receive the new stain. I don't even want to get into all of the options because there are so many. But they will give you the best advice and recommend the best materials so that you'll get a quality result.

Answer 6

Yes you can.

For black, any sort of black preferably polyurethane spray paint will do.

For a darker wook finish, there are varnish-type stains, that really just lay on top of the existing stain.

Stripping it would probably be easy. Most cheap furniture is merely sprayed with a colored laquer. It's not impervious to water at all, and it is soluble in alcohol. Its strips off very easily, then you could use a penetrating stain if you want.

To take a black stain to a classier level, I'd recommend you google "limned oak". It's a method of staining that turns wood almost black, but lefts the grain show through. AND, you make your own stain with vinegar, water and rusted pieces of metal (strained before you apply it).


I know, I know. TMI...

Answer 7

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Is it possible to stain a wood table if it is already stained?
I couldn't pass up this little pub set (it is adorable) because it was so cheap, like $250.00 for the table and four stools... but it is in a light maple color (i dont know the color im not a wood person), but it totally would clash with our dining room floor and walls (which are a deep...

Answer 8

Black Brown Wood Stain

Answer 9

Stain only if you remove all paint or stain especially.There may be a company in your local city that offers a special vat for dipping your set to remove all paint etc.It is the best way to go.They do the dipping.I spent days removing stain in my kitchen,only to have disaster, the new stain looked awful because of wood grain.

Answer 10

Yes, but you will need to sand it down first. I would then go to Home Depot, tell them what type of wood you have and they can help you find a stain that matches the deep brown you have on your floors.

Good luck!

Answer 11

You can paint it but it would be a shame to do if the wood is a good quality. If you paint, you should use a primer first. The other option is to stain it the darker color you would like which means it should be stripped first. There is a brand called "Circa" which is very good and easy to use. Just follow directions on the label.