Sanding and revarnishing Tripp Trapp

[Washersaurus]

I picked up a bargain Tripp Trapp for £15 from a local 2nd hand shop the other day for DS2, but it needs a bit of tlc. I was thinking of sanding and revarnishing it but don't know where to start .

It is a natural beech coloured one. I want to keep it this colour to match DS1's tripp trapp and our dining table etc.

Does anyone have any advice on what treatment I should use on it to get it back to its former glory?

I'm not sure. I just wanted to say well done on getting such a bargain!

If they're made from plywood rather than solid wood, I wouldn't sand it other than very very lightly

If it's not too badly chipped, then good sand and revarnish will do. Use a satin finish if you don't want it too shiny. If the varnish is really chipped and peeling, yo umay need to get some Nitromors and strip it then reseal and varnish it. Nitromors is fab, but very toxic and caustic!

A gentle sand (to provide a key for the new varnish) and then several coats of satin/matt varnish would probably work wonders.

Well done for getting a good bargain!

Is it varnished already? They do them varnished or just oiled.

If it is just oiled, then give it a light scrub with a jiffy pad (one of the washing up pads, not a steel wool one) then oil it. You wont need to sand much off it. I use olive oil for my solid wood table, just be careful not to put to much on. Apply a little drop and rub it in so it does not get sticky.

If it is varnished then, as others have suggested, gentle sand and revarnish.

I am sooo pleased about my bargain find as we were feeling really bad about not having the money to buy DS2 a nice tripp trapp - he ended up with the ikea cheapy one.

The chair is actually in ok condition just a bit worn on the seat and footplate bit, with a couple of paint splashes, and looks like the varnish has worn away in places.

It even has the baby set on, and the lady from the shop delivered it to my door!

So do you think I would need to restain it before varnishing if it is only plywood?

Oh it might be oiled? how do I tell?

Why not paint it a nice colour. Would cover up any paint splashes.
Matching chairs are so 2007

Oh I like to match my chairs!

There are only a couple of paint splashes on the seat, which I can flip over anyway if it doesn't come off with a good scrub, so not a problem.

If it is oiled then it will feel a bit rough. If it is varnished then more of a smooth finish.

I used to sell them, I have scrubbed one that was used a restaurant, it came up beautifully.

You wont need to restain it if it is natural beech.

It is just a bit worn and has dark patches on seat and footrest which feel rough. I think it may be oiled then as I can feel the grain of the wood.

I think the babyset is varnished though as is much smoother. Is it possible to replace the leather strap (old style one) do you know?

Yes, should be no bother to replace with leather strap. Send them an email.

Another way of checking if it is varnished, is to try oiling it, if it does not take on the oil then it must be varnished.

Thank you KS you have been very helpful . I will get some oil and give it a try.

I just can't believe my good luck in finding it

Sorry, where are my manners ey? I should have said thank you all for your help. I think I will lightly sand it and apply some oil and see how it comes up.

I emailed stokke UK customer services and they are sending me a new leather strap in the post - hoorah for those lovely lovely kind people! .

They couldn't advise me on the best product to use to re-varnish/oil it though, which is a shame.

I did try some olive oil on it which was absorbed into the wood. Do you think I could just use the stuff (Behandla?) that you can buy in Ikea?

Yes, the Ikea stuff will be ok. (The wood treatment oil, Lineseed oil).

Just be careful to wash out the cloths in soapy water, DO NOT scrunch them up and throw in the bin. Linseed oil has a very low ignition point and could self-ignite. It should say that on the tin though.

Washersaurus? How did you get on with the renovation?

Could you not just turn over the seat and footplate is the reverse in better condition?

bump. oi, you there.

I'm here

Finished it the other night actually...

I sanded it all down and oiled it a few times with Danish Oil; it has come up a treat with the new leather strap too. I had to turn over the footplate and seat as they were still a bit marked, but the other side was pristeen. DS2 has been happily sitting at the table next to his brother today instead of in his cheap Ikea seat.

Good stuff fellow bargain hunter.
My two got tripp trapps for christmas and it's lovely to all sit round the table together.
I picked up a new pushchair at a boot sale on sunday. Picture on my profile.
Ten Quid.

Wow, good bargain buggy! I never usually find the bargains, I am so pleased we now have a tripp trapp for each of the boys, so I don't have to explain to them when they are older why one got one and the other didn't