Pine table/chairs - paint or re varnish for new lease of life

[snowyowl70]

we have a big, chunky really solid pine table and chairs that need some TLC. It's too good to get rid of but looking grubby/tired so can't decide whether to sand it down and re varnish (like a warm, pine colour that will wipe down easily) or whether to paint but don't know how to go about it. Does anyone have any tips or can recommend varnish/paint that would be suitable ? We have a small electric sander so I am told as long as we work along the grain and not across it it should be easy enough to sand down although don't think it will cope with spindles on chairs. Any tips gratefully received !

if you paint the table the paint will chip and mark easily so wont look pristine for long! if you do decide on this opion would suggest you use clear varnish of several coats on onto to prevent this happening.

I wouldnt varnish or paint the table.
I'd sand it down and wax it.
I think old battered pine tables are lovely, we are on the lookout for one for our ktichen!

Not sure about the chairs, perhaps ask for a quote/advice from a furniture restorer?

Go on to you tube, there are lots of videos showing you how to do things.

I'm with Pannacotta.I love solid wood/pine with a history - my stuff has seen so much life going on around it.
I just don't understand the need for pristine and new looking.

If you really insisted on doing something then I really don't think painting would be the way to go.I'd either do stripped and scrubbed or stripped and varnished(but I don't think a new varnish coating would last long term...)

Good luck,I am of your chunky solid table!

waxing it is ok but tbh not really suitable if you are planning on using the table for eating . It wont take long to get ruined and then you will be back where you started! whatever your choice varnising it with serveral coats of clear at the end will keep it looking good for quite some time.

But surely you eat off a plate not the table so its fine if you wax it.
Old pine tables were never varnished in the past.

Anyway, some useful info here
www.wood-finishes-direct.com/project-guides/interior-tables.htm

There is a hard wax oil which is food safe, that might be a good option.

as i used to renovate period furniture i have some experience in this field.

whilst you would probably eat off a plate if you spill anything on the table thats waxed or clean it with anything other than a duster you WILL RECK the finish.

if you use an oil the table will have to be resanded and re oil at least once a year!

Again if you intend to put a cloth on the table LIKE THEY DID IN THE PAST TO PROTECT THE TABLE then waxing is quick and easy way.

waxing will not stand up for day to day wear on a dining table especially if you have kids, also you would not be able to place anything so much as warm on it or it will mark also thats without water marks etc.

keep your knickers on kittycat!

Hardwax oil is very durable for tables. Nothing to worry about re: hot plates or wet cups, we have used it on desks, the coffee table and dressing table so far.

hmm I'm with kittykat on this one
I love the look of waxed pine but have had it for a kitchen table and it doesn't last. Just about lasted on our coffee table but had ring stains.

Matt varnish?? I know bugger all though

thank you everyone for your advice. Perhaps paint isn't the way forward. I think varnish might be the right solution for a young family .

Btw, we have used Osmo hardwax oil on floorboards in our house (its also safe to use on table tops) and so far it has lasted 4 years, so I dont think it would need re-doing every month and you can repair any damage without removing it all, unlike varnish. Its much tougher than eg danish oil which is used on wooden worktops.

You can see an example here
www.jmfrenchpolishing.co.uk/kitchens
and some info here
www.osmouk.com/osmocolorinterior.cfm?page=0&chapter=1

to those who have used osmo hardwax oil - how did you apply it to worktops/table tops?

i have a can waiting to use when i get around to sanding down my worktops and table, we have previously used linseed oil and danish oil. i bought the osmo as i had read good things about it but the instructions on the can refer to applying to floors with a roller thingy.

I used it on floors with a brush and it worked fine.
You could call an Osmo stockist for advice, I got mine from here
www.paint-paper.co.uk/

Brush thinly, and wipe off excess with a J cloth or rag (wear gloves it's sticky). Or just wipe on and spread with a wadded up cloth. A few thin coats are better than a thick one.

I've used beeswax on our sanded kitchen table and it's great. We all eat (Me, DH and two kids) at it each day and it's always having stuff spilt on it, it wipes off fine!

I would wax the table but paint the chairs. I glossed our chairs white and I'm not generally a fan of gloss, but in this setting it looks nice (and cleans up well).

thanks. i will hopefully get around to doing it this weekend.

Agree re beeswax - we are about to re do a couple of pine chests 10 years or sosince their last waxing and strip a couple of old coffee tables back to natural for the first time. I'm a big stripped pine fan - I don't care if it's in fashion or not - I think it's warm and timeless, particularly if you mix & match with the right things.

I would strip it then use a matt varnish on the table top.

You could strip it and leave it bare or wax it, but you will get marks unless you're willing to rewax it religiously.

Matt varnish isn't quite as nice a finish as waxed but it's a lot more durable.

I would also consider painting the table legs (i.e. all but the table top) and the chairs. More of a "shabby chic" look, so a bit more up to date than plain pine.

You could also consider staining it a slightly darker colour so that any marks show up less. Our kitchen table top is stained a sort of grey (with the woodgrain showing) so marks blend in better than they would with plain wood.