Pine Welsh dresser (pic included)

[cosmo30]

Hi, I have an old pine Welsh dresser that is pretty ugly atm but I plan to paint it and change the handles! I'm crap at diy though so have no idea where to start? It's shiny so think it's varnished, do I need to sand it down first? I don't really want to use chalk paint as I want it to be a solid coverage, can anyone advise what kind of paint I should use on it?

Give it a good clean with sugar soap and maybe a very light quick sand. Paint with one coat thinned chalk paint. Finish either with another coat of chalk paint and wax it, or paint with two coats of any satin or gloss wood paint you like.

You can use ESP (Easy Surface Preparation - a liquid you can buy) instead of sanding which saves time and a lot of elbow grease.

Take your handles off before you do anything. What’s holding the two halves together? Doweling?

The very first thing is to pick what look and finish you’re aiming for, though.

You could use an adhesion primer followed by any gloss or eggshell. Zinsser BIN primer is good - stir it well. Use meths to clean your brush/roller after using this primer. If the surface is in very good condition you can use it without sanding but give it a good clean with sugar soap in any case.

I sometimes use cocktail sticks to stop holes (handle holes) getting blocked with paint.

What about going for this kind of look?

And changing the handles to cup ones like on this dresser?

Before you start look at new ones to see what you like - Cotswold, kitchen companies - easy to Google with image or Pinterest. Maybe you like a waxed natural wood bench and painted surrounds in which case you'll definitely need to sand. Maybe you want contrasting colour behind the shelves and on the drawer fronts. Measure your hardware and browse for what you like - different metal finishes and styles. You might not like chalk paint but on shiny yellow pine it will be your easiest course of action. If you aren't a fan of shabby and distressed that is associated with chalk & wax you can just do more coats to get stronger coverage and not bash the edges before you wax. Don't underestimate how much work sanding will be but have a look at Aldi's current specials (check the app) there's a good palm sander in there to preorder 10.05.20).

I second sugar soap, followed by an easy surface preparation, then eggshell. I painted a pine dresser with chalk paint, but I'd never use it again. It's saving grace was that it dried very quickly but that was also its downfall as it was hard to get an even coverage on larger areas. I did leave the top of the cupboard part unpainted as I thought that might get scratched- it looks fine - and its given my dresser a new lease of life. My advice would be just to paint the drawer fronts so they still fit the drawer space, and to take the doors off if you can, to paint. You need to decide where to stop painting the cupboard; I didn't do inside.

Clean with sugar soap, lightly sand, rinse bin 123 is a sod to apply as you have to work very quickly but will stop any bleed through from the pine. Top coat with a good quality eggshell. If you would like the counter left as wood I would sand it down to bare wood then either stain it darker or leave it the natural colour and then varnish with a satin varnish. Change the handles for something more modern.

Wow lots of good advice thank you! I do like the idea of that sort of dresser @raspberrycordial it looks lovely, I'm just worried mine will look shit 😩
I think I will go for that esp primer and an eggshell paint, will this be okay together? And I want to leave the top board as it is, it had a few scratches on it so I think painting it would make them stand out more! So sanding down and varnishing? Or do I need to use an oil first ? I have danish oil already

This sort of thing?

Don't oil first!

So just sand and varnish? Sorry for all the questions but totally new to this

Step away from the oil... sanding and a few coats of varnish should be fine on the top of the cupboard. Please post a picture when you've done it.

I think I’d try to get a plate rack fitted as well, if you’ll use it. I had a similar dresser and painted, changed the handles and put in a plate rack. It came up really well. I’ll PM you pics!

Chalk paint does give a solid finish. It’s only not solid in distressed because you have to sand it off to get that look. If you don’t sand it after painting it is a solid finish. You need two coats but you don’t need to sand etc,

I’d then finish it with a clear mat varnish, was is a bastard.

You don't need to sand it.

Clean it hot soapy water and use Annie Sloan paint.

These used to be pine

Wax not was,

For example this is chalk paint.

Ah, we can’t pm pics, sorry. Happy to send if you want to PM me an email address.

I recently painted a Ducal shiny pine sideboard. I spent ages sanding it down, and cleaning it thoroughly. I then used a coat of regular primer, two coats of undercoat then two coats of satinwood paint (stone/pale taupe shade). I didn’t use any varnish.
I have used chalk paint before on a different project - never again. It was like painting with glue. The table I painted is going to the strippers as soon as possible.
I can’t emphasise how important the preparation is. Use a very fine sand paper in between coats. Also take the doors of the hinges and paint them separately. I didn’t change my handles, just painted them to match. I like the idea of the metal cup handles though.
I’m really, really pleased with the results. Go for it!

Also, the top of my sideboard had lots of little scratches but the paint has filled them so it looks brand new.

Thanks for the great advice everyone, I have made a start so will update soon when it's finished (will probably take me a while) I went for the eps primer and an eggshell cream btw! Varnish should be delivered soon for the top board also

@Bluntness100 that dresser is gorgeous. What colour did you use?

Just an update, still not finished but main part done!

Lots of up cycling videos on YouTube. Frenchic paint is supposed to be good.