I bought this really cool old desk, but I'm not sure how I should go about re-vamping it!?

Question

I bought this really cool, old desk at Goodwill. I like the way it looks but the paint is kind of chipped and also I think the paint is lead-based. I want to repaint it all together, but I'm not sure of the steps I should take. I know I have to sand it and take off the hardware and what not but what else? Real answers are appreciated. Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

If it's pretty old I doubt the paint was original. What type of desk? Not many furniture makers would paint something they just created.
I would use chemical stripper then see what lies below.
Then take it from there as far as refinishing. You may have something really nice and old looking that you may not want to mess with too much.
As far as the lead issuse. Yeah well.
I really would be interested in what you find. I make furniture as a hobby and done my share of refinishing. I love old pieces.

Answer 2

I don't know that you have to sand it unless the wood (after you take the paint off) is uneven or chipped.

There is such a thing as paint remover. You'll need to work on it outdoors, where it's airy and away from flames or the possibility of it starting a fire. That stuff is real flamable. You can buy that remover at a hardware store or a place like Home Depot. It's so strong it can take your skin off so you'll need rubber gloves. It's so strong that it can asphixiate you. So do it outdoors where there is no grass and use newspapers underneath and do it on a cool day and out of the sun. You put it on lavishly with a wide brush (so you can do it quickly) and you wait a while then remove the ick with rags (the rags might be flammable so don't let them sit in the sun). You "may" have to do it twice. You can then wipe it with water with detergent in it, you can use an oil base wood color stain (lots of those at Walmart), and use it twice to get a darker color. I suggest doing this project in the fall or spring when it's cooler. I tried to do that once in the summer and everything I tried to put on (the remover and the stain) the liquid dried while still on the brush in only seconds of time.

I have to add that once you have removed all the paint that you take a good look at the piece and figure out just why it was painted. If there are cup marks and stains then that could make the piece more valuable as an antique and maybe you might not want to ruin it with another paint, maybe you might want to use just an oil on the wood, or if not then just a light plastic coating to preserve the valuable desk.

Answer 3

What makes you think the paint is lead- based? It would pretty much have to be an antique to have lead based paint on it, since it's been so long since they made it and there usually aren't many real antique peice sof furniture at the Goodwill.
But irregardless, if you 're wanting a quick fix, sand the loose paint places, paint if first with primer, then paint it with a latex enamel.
If you want to restore it, use a paint stripper, sand it and paint it. There are all kinds of neat stencils you can use to make the top fancy and lots of different paint techniques these days.

Answer 4

I have been wanting to take an old desk or table and do a mosiac design with tile. You can go to the hardware store and get broken or stratched tiles, take them home, break them up then tile the table top.

You could also do a really need collage on the top of pictures and paint the trim and the legs different colors. Have some fun with it.

Answer 5

First of all if it was mine, I'd try to determine its age, and possible refinish value perhaps as an antique someone just wanted to get rid of.

Without knowing the age or type of paint, you might chip some and have it checked. Sanding Lead based paint isn't a great idea. Certainly stripping will work, but also needs cleanups and sanding after. They can work well but aren't a miracle cure.

What I'd do is spackle the chips, perhaps priming with Kilz Oil based primer first, sand that GENTLY with mesh sanders as I use for drywall mud, and when smooth to suit you, paint it or decorate it anyway you wish.

The safety issues with lead paint,,,mush as with asbestos is that Covering/ enclosing/encasing is acceptable, removal and remediation is not advised as a DIY. Again, not knowing the age of the piece or the paint job, it's quite possible the paint is latex or oil based enamel, if the paint was applied after the mid 70's.

Steven Wolf