AIBU to think I can paint pine chairs without sanding them down?

[ForTheLoveOfCatFood]

As in the title? I’ve got some solid pine chairs I want to paint cream, do I have to sand them down first or just paint straight over the varnish

I know IABU to ask this here

I wouldn't paint straight over the varnish - it might peel off. A light sand will do

If you want them to look half decent you need to sand and prime in my experience.

Sorry, its a shit of a job!

It's a pain in the arse but a bigger, much bigger pain in the arse will be sanding off all the paint and re painting.

You need to sand them down and preferably do a primer coat as well, and then a top coat. Will last much longer that way. If you don't sand them down any imperfections will really show, and the paint will peel off.

I didn’t bother, although I did wash with sugar soap.

I like shabby chic look as the paint wears off

You'll have to, sorry. If you don't the paint won't adhere and will start chipping off - if it even went on properly in the first place. It needs a key for the paint to stick.

Preparation is boring but essential for an even half decent result. Rub them down with glasspaper or coarse wire wool, then wipe over with white spirit to get the dust off.

Depends how picky you are about the finish.

I’ve painted white gloss directly on top of that horrible orange pine that used to be so popular - wardrobes not chairs though, that didn’t peel off or anything and I thought they looked ok, they were very obviously painted though.

I think a wash with sugar soap would do if you paint with chalk paint. Otherwise you need to sand

Wash with sugar soap them brush on liquid sander, available from all good diy stores: less onerous for the nooks and crannies of your chairs and less dust than sandpaper or wire wool but uses a chemical reaction to soften the surface of the paint or varnish to give a key for the next coat.
Good luck

Thanks all... off to get liquid sander, primer and paint

One word of warning, if you are going to prime get a shellac based primer as pine is notorious for bleed through. Plus if you are using chalk paint you do need a top coat of either wax or varnish. Varnish is more hard wearing than wax, but if left without a topcoat you will find it very difficult to clean chalk paint. Have fun

Check out Frenchic paint. I've just bought some, not tried it yet. You just lightly sand/sugar soap and off you go, no primer or finishing coat needed 😀