Side table revamp

Client projects are starting to become my favorite! I love redoing things in our home. But there is something about working with someone and bringing their vision to life. This project was especially fun because it was for my friend, Katie. Katie and I grew up together. Katie and her sister Molly found this set on Facebook Marketplace in College Station, Texas for around $100. What a find! They decided to split the set and repaint them in the future. I was thrilled when Katie asked if I could help out with this painting project. What’s even more fun, is that Katie was giving Molly this for her Christmas gift! What a great idea.

Tables Before:

The tables were in good shape. There was some minor yellowing in the paint and peeling in a few spots. The entryway table legs had some wood chips and cracks.

Materials Needed:

tack cloth
krud klutter spray
8-80 Grit Sanding Sponge
4-120 Grit Sanding Sponge
6-120 Grit Orbital Sanding circles
4-220 Grit Sanding Sponge
cloth-like rags
Primer of choice (I used Sherwin Williams Extreme Block Stain Blocking Primer/Sealer oil-based)
Paint of Choice: My client chose Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray #7044. We used ProClassic interior oil based paint. She had a little leftover from her kitchen island base so it worked out perfectly.
Drop cloth (Trimaco One Tuff)or spray tent (Wagner)
2″ white angled paint brush for oil based paint
mask
Painting Coverall Suit
DryDex wood filler (optional-only if chips or gaps in the wood are present)
Paint Stripper
foam paint brush
Mineral Spirits and gloves (I used almost 3 gallons-mineral spirits was needed to prime my paint sprayer)
Liquid Nails (in case you need to reattach any pieces to table)
Premium Stripper (optional)
chemical resistant gloves if using stripper
Plastic Putty knife set if using a stripper

Tools Needed:

Paint Sprayer (Graco Sprayer) I had this one already.
Orbital Sander (to make life easier)
Shopvac with tube attachment

Step 1: Cleaning and Sanding OR Degloss/Stripping

I sprayed both tables down with Krud Klutter and wiped them with rags.

I used 80 grit sanding sponges to sand both pieces. This was the longest part of the process. This took me about 2-3 days. Sanding was tedious, but it was essential to remove the original shiny finish from the tables. Both tables have the bamboo legs so I was unable to use my orbital sander on most of the areas. However, I used an orbital sander and 120 grit sanding circles on the flat bottom shelves on each table. After everything was sanded, I vacuumed up all extra dust and debris. I went back over the pieces with 120 Grit sandpaper and vacuumed. Then I wiped it down with a tack cloth.

I decided to strip both pieces just because the shine was still present on some parts of the furniture even after sanding. Looking back on the finished project, I do think I could’ve skipped this stripping step due to my heavy duty primer or started with stripping the furniture first prior to all the sanding.

Stripping added another step to my process. I sprayed and painted on the stripper on both pieces of furniture, and let it set for 15-20 minutes. Then I used a scrapper to remove the extra paint. The stripper did allow me to get in between some odd spaces. I read quite a few recommendations for saran wrapping the legs of the tables after spraying the stripper on them. I did do this, and it did work! But after the second time. I left the tables in the sun for a bit too long and it dried up. I’ll have to retest two different areas next time to see if I can tell a difference.

After I finished this entire stripping process, I cleaned the area with mineral spirits to remove any extra gunk and goo. Then I sanded areas that needed it. Vacuumed the tables again and then wiped them down with a tack cloth.

Again, you don’t need to do both of these processes to prep your piece. I know that now, as with most projects, I learn something new.

Step 2: Prime

I highly recommend the Sherwin Williams oil based primer. This set me up for success. I decided to hand paint the primer on the tables with angled brush. I didn’t think my sprayer could reach all the angles and areas I needed to cover. This took me a day to prime both tables.

My advice is to research the material you are painting and then decide what primer and paint is best! I allowed mine to dry overnight. I did a light sanding after my primer dried, vacuumed, and then wiped it down with tack cloth.

Step 3: Paint

I put both pieces in my tent and sprayed the first coat. My paint recommended a 24 hour wait time for a recoat. Now since I was using an oil-based paint I had to flush my sprayer immediately after painting with mineral spirits. Otherwise, this could harden in my system and mess it up. Hence why I bought 3 gallons of mineral spirits. Cleaning up properly is essential. I lightly sanded a few areas where the paint didn’t lay perfectly. I found with oil based paint the need to sand in between painting sessions was less than when I used water based paint.

The next day I gave the tables a second coat of paint. I allowed them to completely dry. Then I did some touch up painting with a foam brush. The foam brush is great because it shows less brush strokes.

Most Sherwin Williams paints have a sealer in them, so I did not have to use a sealer on the tables. It will take a full 30 days for the tables to cure.