Upcycling an orange pine table/chairs - do I really have to sand it??

[ErlingHaalandsManBun]

This pine table was the first thing DH and I bought together a zillion years ago when we first moved in together.

We love the actual table. Its a good solid table and has literally been with us our whole relationship so we are reluctant to re-home it.

I have, instead, looked into upcycling it.

Everything I have seen points to sanding it before applying paint and/or wax.

Do I really have to do this part? 😥

I am a massive lazy fecker, so would rather skip this step, but DH says if I am going to attempt to revive it then I need to do it properly. He won't do it as (fairly) he works full time and literally just doesn't have time. So the task falls to me but the thought of having to sand the buggering thing just makes me wanna cry!

Tell me I don't have to and I can just whack some paint on? 😂

You don't have to and you can just whack some paint on. It just won't last as long and won't look as good, and you'll wish you'd taken the time to sand it, and every time your DH looks at it he'll think 'told you so'.

This

and stop being so lazy. Do it properly or pay somebody to do it for you

If you paint over the old varnish the paint will chip off easily, it will look lumpy and unfinished and you will end up sanding it anyway.

borrow a small sander for the top (if you’ve not used one before, practice on a bit of waste wood first). Do it outside and wear a mask. Use sandpaper (or those sanding sponges) for the legs.
Painting the legs and leaving the top wood looks really good. Danish oil (I prefer Rustins) gives a good long lasting finish that doesn’t mark like wax polish does. The trick is to sand it well, clean with white spirits then apply lots of really thin coats of oil.

Yes, it takes a while, but it’s worth it for a piece of furniture you love.

If you use chalk paint you don't need to sand. But you will need to seal it with a wax finish

Chalk paint you don't have to strip it.

I saw one of those doing up houses programmes where people had an old chest of drawers which was dipped in a chemical bath to remove the old varnish, it's not that expensive. Place near me will do a door for £25. Then you just let it dry out and paint however you like.

Don't use chalk paint - it's fine for occassional use furniture, but not a dining table.

Get it done woman - you'll feel much better once it's done properly, and it won't take that long.

Yeah honestly, if you're going to do it, do it properly. Sanding isn't the worst thing in the world - it's not like you have to cover it in Nitromors or something, you just need to rough it up so there's a 'key' for whatever you're painting it with (although if you're going to gloss it you should probably do an undercoat)

I think you can get paints that claim to paint over stuff like that if you have a google. I don’t blame you not wanting to sand, it’s a filthy job that would break your heart

Use acetone as a wash
It'll take the orangey Ness away then you can wax/stain it
I use bri wax

Sanding it gets rid of the old orange varnish coating it has on it and gets back to the bare wood. Then you stain or paint it the colour you want.

Or you could always buy a tablecloth instead.😂

Yes to all that. I'd try Frenchic paint too.

Yes

Do the job properly if you like the table as much as you say.

This excellent advice.

Get some Erdbauer sheets, they are magic. No sand or paper but they do it much more easily.

😂Yeah I know, I was just hoping someone would back me up and say it will be fine not to sand it. I am not very patient, its a fault of mine, and I want everything to be done now! 🙃

I know, I know. I will. Any chance you want to come and do it for me? 😂

Sanding is such a crap, mind numbing job though and I have no patience and not an ounce of creativity. 😂I like the idea of your second option best 😜

If it is smooth, wash it down with some sugar soap, then use Zinsser All Coat exterior. You can have it tinted to any colour including Farrow and Ball, Dulux, and Little Greene colours at Brewers.

It doesn't need sanding or priming, and it's mould resistant.

Get a mouse or orbital sander, will make it much easier.

If you are near me I'll do it for you! I find sanding quite therapeutic 😂

If you're painting it, you do need to sand it but not to perfection! Its just to key it, so paint sticks. Get a decent undercoat, and it'll be fine.

I upcycled a bookcase, there are photos of me sanding with one hand with a glass of vino in the other. Multitasking at it's finest 👌

Now that is a plan I can get on board with 😂

Runs off to google Zinsser All Coat exterior 😁