Hi Folks,

I've been pretty much a lurker here for awhile but find myself looking for
some advice from the pros.

I just purchased an old walnut sideboard / buffet.
It turned out to be in rougher condition than I thought it was when I agreed
to buy it.
There are some pretty bad chips in the veneer on the face,and sides of the
piece and a dog seems to have gnawed on the bottom of it. (If it were my
dog, it's name would be Target) Amazingly, the top is pretty much undamaged
with only a few teeny tiny little spots that I had to fill. I think they
will be unnoticeable. Some slight rings that I am confident will disappear
when I stain it.

I have it pretty well stripped and sanded. The top is ready for stain and
polyurethane.
I am going to paint the bottom of it black.
Before you get out your whipping sticks, please know that this is NOT a rare
collector's piece. It has several places that needed to be filled.
Painting it will make it match the antique walnut dining room table I
rescued 15 years ago. It was also terribly damaged on the legs and still
looks beautiful.

I hate painting pretty wood, but there really is no choice at this point.

I plan on using spray acrylic enamel with a satin clear coat on the bottom,
how would you recommend I prime the wood before I paint it?

I'm knowledgeable in most refinishing and have done quite a bit of it, but I
have not really had to put paint on raw wood before.

Would just a coat of clear to seal it then a light sanding with 0000 steel
wool? Sanding sealer (IMO) always seems to lift the grain, thus requiring
quite a bit more sanding than I wanted to do but I will if I have to.

Thank you in advance,

Kate

On May 3, 4:06 pm, "Kate" wrote:

SNIP

I am going to paint the bottom of it black.
Before you get out your whipping sticks, please know that this is NOT a rare
collector's piece. It has several places that needed to be filled.

*Whew*. You may have just saved yourself from an earful there, or in
this case a screenful. I can hear the mutterings in the background,
though.

I hate painting pretty wood, but there really is no choice at this point.

It happens. Sometimes you have to look at something and think that
you are turning it into a usable, servicable piece rather than to let
it get away. And there certainly isn't any reason to no mix paint and
natural or stain colors. Japanese woodworkers have been mixing for
years.

I don't understand why you feel like you need to "seal the wood"
before you paint. Nothing sticks to paint like itself if properly
applied. It makes its own good sealer, and many paints are made to be
used by themselves. It does in some cases give a better finish, but
doesn't necessarily mean it will adhere better.

But if you stripped or sanded out the base and still have some spots
of finsh or there are resin pockets in the dents and dings all old
pieces have then priming may be a good idea.

For all naked wood, I use the Zinsser bullseye stain sealer. It is
the same as KILZ in most respects, but it seems to spray better for
me. To even out the grain a bit, spray a medium thick coat on it,
then lightly sand after it dries. Spray another, then very lightly
sand again. I never go past 220 grit. Clean well with a lightly
dampened rag and allow to sit for an hour. This will help harden up
the sealer,
and finish most of the the outgassing of the solvent.

BTW - I have found for projects like this that have unknown finishes
on them, solvent based primer is the only way to go.
The water based primers/stain killers are good for latex, on wall and
doors, etc. Any other finish, go solvent based.

After cleaning and drying, paint as needed. All that sealer should
reduce the amount of paint you apply by at least one coat. Also, I
never sand between coats. Following the manufacturer't specs on when
to recoat, I just make sure I do it as soon as possible. If I can't
second coat until a day or two later, I might scuff sand, but that's
it. So if you are painting one weekend, then second coating the
next, sand.
And I have never had a finish separate between coats from doing it
this way.

Good luck! Hope the project turns out well.

Robert

Just my limited experience--

When in doubt I use shellac as a primer, reduced down a bit from what comes
in the can.

Advantages, goes on quick, seals anything on the wood, dries fast.

I don't spray, so that might make a difference.

A quick touch hand sanding takes care of any rough spots (I use 220 grit).

There are some adhesion problems with clear polyurethane so I don't use it
under that.

Good luck on reclaiming a oldie but goodie.

Old Guy


"Kate" wrote in message
...
Hi Folks,

I've been pretty much a lurker here for awhile but find myself looking for
some advice from the pros.

I just purchased an old walnut sideboard / buffet.
It turned out to be in rougher condition than I thought it was when I
agreed
to buy it.
There are some pretty bad chips in the veneer on the face,and sides of the
piece and a dog seems to have gnawed on the bottom of it. (If it were my
dog, it's name would be Target) Amazingly, the top is pretty much
undamaged
with only a few teeny tiny little spots that I had to fill. I think they
will be unnoticeable. Some slight rings that I am confident will disappear
when I stain it.

I have it pretty well stripped and sanded. The top is ready for stain and
polyurethane.
I am going to paint the bottom of it black.
Before you get out your whipping sticks, please know that this is NOT a
rare
collector's piece. It has several places that needed to be filled.
Painting it will make it match the antique walnut dining room table I
rescued 15 years ago. It was also terribly damaged on the legs and still
looks beautiful.

I hate painting pretty wood, but there really is no choice at this point.

I plan on using spray acrylic enamel with a satin clear coat on the
bottom,
how would you recommend I prime the wood before I paint it?

I'm knowledgeable in most refinishing and have done quite a bit of it, but
I
have not really had to put paint on raw wood before.

Would just a coat of clear to seal it then a light sanding with 0000 steel
wool? Sanding sealer (IMO) always seems to lift the grain, thus requiring
quite a bit more sanding than I wanted to do but I will if I have to.

Thank you in advance,

Kate

Thanks fellas...
I think I'll just go ahead and paint it without priming then.
Worst case scenario, I'll have to scuff it between coats.

I'll post some photos on the binary group when I get it all done.

I appreciate the input!

Kate

Thu, May 3, 2007, 4:06pm (EDT-1) er (Kate) doth query
thusly:
snip I plan on using spray acrylic enamel with a satin clear coat on
the bottom, how would you recommend I prime the wood before I paint it?
snip

If it was me, the way I'd do it would be to hold the can straight
up in front of my eyes with one hand, with the front of the can facing
me, press the first two fingers of the other hand to my temple, close my
eyes, try to blank my mind, concentrate, and wait for the answer on how
to prime the wood to pop into my mind.

When that doesn't work it's time to open my eyes, turn the can
around, and read what the manufacturer says about priming. If that
doesn't clear things up, I'd call the 1-800 number. also on the back of
the can, and ask a people what I wanted to know. But that's just me.



JOAT
What is life without challenge and a constant stream of new
humiliations?
- Peter Egan

Smart Ass!
I did read the can, twice...
it says nothing about priming or prepping for wood other than the usual
clean, dirt free surface.
.... so there! ;¬Þ

Kate
PS: Now... be sure while you have that aimed, you don't pull the trigger..
ok !


"J T" wrote in message
...
Thu, May 3, 2007, 4:06pm (EDT-1) er (Kate) doth query
thusly:
snip I plan on using spray acrylic enamel with a satin clear coat on
the bottom, how would you recommend I prime the wood before I paint it?
snip

If it was me, the way I'd do it would be to hold the can straight
up in front of my eyes with one hand, with the front of the can facing
me, press the first two fingers of the other hand to my temple, close my
eyes, try to blank my mind, concentrate, and wait for the answer on how
to prime the wood to pop into my mind.

When that doesn't work it's time to open my eyes, turn the can
around, and read what the manufacturer says about priming. If that
doesn't clear things up, I'd call the 1-800 number. also on the back of
the can, and ask a people what I wanted to know. But that's just me.



JOAT
What is life without challenge and a constant stream of new
humiliations?
- Peter Egan

Sat, May 5, 2007, 7:10am (EDT-1) er (Kate) doth burble:
Smart Ass!
I did read the can, twice...
it says nothing about priming or prepping for wood other than the usual
clean, dirt free surface.
... so there! ;¬Þ
Kate
PS: Now... be sure while you have that aimed, you don't pull the
trigger..
ok !

Then you did learn something today after all. That I don't read
minds. That leaves the 1-800 number then, eh?

You want cheap gas? Pull my finger.



JOAT
What is life without challenge and a constant stream of new
humiliations?
- Peter Egan