Thursday, September 19, 2013

WIP Refinishings

I've been hit with the refinishing bug, and have been working away at several projects these past couple of weeks.
 
I have a lot (a lot!) of wooden things in my house.  Everything from furniture to bowls to boxes ... on and on it goes.  After having so much fun sanding down and painting some chairs for my daughter in the summer, I've lined up these smaller items to work on now.
 
A plain pine breadbox, which I plan to sand down and paint white.  It looks like it was homemade, but it's fairly clean inside & out.
 
 
I got it to this stage yesterday using the orbital sander (love that tool!).  Today I put one coat of white paint on it, but I bought the expensive stuff that takes 6 hours to dry for second coat (which it needs).
 
 
Next is a small stool that my great grandfather made.   I got it from my Great Aunt Mary's house (which was the family farm homestead) years ago.  It's always been coming apart a bit, and had a very dark stain, which is slowly wearing away.  I want to paint it white too for the bathroom, where I've always had it for my kids when they were young, and now to hold a basket of toilet paper.
 
 
I got it all sanded down yesterday too, but need to drive a couple of screws in before I paint it.
 
Now Stacy asked me about my rocking basket, which I said I was going to paint (but never did!).  I like the stained wood, but hate the painted strawberries on the side. 
 
 
So it got sanded down yesterday too.  Unfortunately, the outline of the strawberry painting showed up even after a thorough sanding, so I decided to just paint the whole thing white too ... I'm a little disappointed with the white paint on it, and wished I could have kept the natural wood.  Hopefully with the second coat of paint it'll look better.
 
The piece that took most of my time was this cute little smoking table.  We bought it many years ago at an antique flea market out Dundas way, and I always thought it would look nice painted white.  It's got a hideous, dark, poorly-applied stain on it that someone slapped on in a hurry just before we bought it ... it was still tacky when we brought it home.
 
 
After sanding it with the orbital sander yesterday for a good two hours, I found it was made from some rather nice wood.  I thought it might be cherry, but my husband thinks it's more likely walnut.
 
 
And that spoiled my plans for painting it white!  Now I'll finish up the sanding that I couldn't reach with the power sander and either stain it, or just put a clear varnish on it instead.
 
 
I'm not going to try and get the stain out of the decorative grooves, or the little dot in the door and on the sides ... I think it'll look okay with those a bit darker.
 
 
It has a delicate little latch ...
 
 
I also dragged a box out of the garage that was left here when we moved in.  I wanted to clean it up somehow, but didn't know how to accomplish this without washing the words away.  It was really filthy, and the inside is just as black as it looks in the photo.
 
 
 
So I sanded the inside and the bottom with the sander, which cleaned all the dirt off it and smoothed it out considerably.
 
 
When I wiped it off with a tack cloth, I just continued rubbing the tack cloth all over the outside and was amazed at how clean it came up just from that!  No need to wash it with water, and the printing stayed on.  Nice surprise there :)

 
Once I get the painting completed on the other pieces I'll show them all off.
 
Have a great day!
 
Wendy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

50 comments:

  1. Look at you go! Can't wait to see the finished pieces. I have a couple of wooden pieces I want to refinish/paint but I've never done it before, so I will likely put it off for months...years. ;)

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    1. I've put the smoking table & stool off for over 25 years! It's time. I can't wait to get them finished now ... but waiting for paint to dry is frustrating :[

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  2. Lots of interesting pieces. What I really like is the smoking table, I have never seen one before. Looking forward to final reveal :)
    - Gaia

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    1. Thanks Gaia ... on the inside of the door of the smoking table is a tiny shelf with holes drilled in it to hold pipes! We always wanted to use it for an end table in the living room ... now I hope to put it there when finished :)

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  3. Gosh, you have been busy, loooking forward to seeing all of your projects when they are finished. I don't think that I have left you a comment before, but I am looking forward to reading more! Amy

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    1. Thanks for visiting Amy (I've popped over to your blog now too). I hope you're not disappointed with the finished results.

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  4. allot of work in those pieces-I always hate to see vintage wood pieces get painted-but I guess the next person can always strip it-glad the lettering did not come off on your box-

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    1. sorry hope that didn't sound too negative-repurposing a piece is always good-hugs

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    2. Not at all Kathy! I feel the same way, and that's probably why it's taken me over 25 years to come to the decision to refinish the smoking table (which I'm not painting, just putting a clear coat of varnish on). The other items (bread box & basket) weren't old at all, and I had no qualms about painting the bread box. As I say, I was upset that the strawberry paintings left a faded outline after sanding, or I would've left that basket in natural wood. The wood on the stool didn't sand down nicely (splotchy stain), so I'm painting it white, and I think it will look nice & fresh again. No offence taken ... enjoy your day! xox

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    3. sometimes we need to repurpose to our own needs-and if the wood is not nice-then painting is a refreshing option-hugs

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  5. Oh wow, you have your work cut out for you but how wonderful you have taken on these projects. I think your smoking table is really cool ~ I don't think I have seen anything like it before. And how awesome that you got to work on the basket! I think it is going to look great in white!! I hope you are having a lovely evening!

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    1. Thanks Stacy. As soon as I saw your comment about the basket, I thought I should add it to the pile of things I was working on. I spent the entire afternoon yesterday sanding up a storm in the backyard ... I'm sure the neighbours loved the noise of the sander (I had ear protectors on and only heard a gentle hum!). Anyway, I hope the basket does look good with the second coat ... can't wait to see it myself!

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  6. I didn't know what a smoking table was...so now I know.
    Jane x
    PS Have a great trip.

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    1. I even have a few small clay pipes to put in it! I'll wave as we roll by ;)

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  7. You go lady!!! Your pieces are going to awesome when you finish them...I have no doubt about that!! And what unique pieces they are!!! I can't wait to see them when they are finished!!!! Have a lovely weekend!!! Nicole xoxo

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    1. Thanks Nicole ... another coat of paint has been applied now, and things are looking good. Have a great weekend yourself :)

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  8. You've done so much work! I love all of these pieces and they're going to look even better when you're finished. They're all really interesting pieces too, what a nice collection.

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    1. Thanks Jennifer, I've been collecting interesting stuff for many years now, and I like to put EVERYthing to good use. So I'm happy to finally get these useful pieces looking good at long last.

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  9. It funny how you tackle one little project you want to do more and more! Love all your pieces, especially the old antique table and box (so happy for you the words didn't come off) Have fun!
    Shari

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    1. This is SO true Shari! The chairs were a lot of work, and took me many hours to complete. These smaller pieces are taking a lot less time, which is good because I don't have a lot of staying power ;)

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  10. You have been very busy. I'm lucky that my hubby refinishes everything I want done. We have his grandfather's smoking table which is a different design than yours and it had been painted a glossy red when we got it.
    I look forward to seeing the after photos.
    Judith

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    1. My husband makes his own furniture, but I've finally come to the realization that he really doesn't like to (& won't) refinish someone else's work. I like seeing the transformation. Hopefully will all be ready for showing next week!

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  11. wow you are so busy !! love the bread bin but all the projects look better for being re-loved ! Gail x

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    1. Thanks Gail, I agree that a little TLC makes you like a piece even more :)

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  12. Doesn't it feel good to revamp things, I really love that old box, you've worked some magic! :) x

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    1. Thanks Ada, it does feel good to finally get to these projects.

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  13. You have some pretty little treasures with a brand new life. Lucky them! :o)

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  14. I love painted furniture. I can't wait to see your finished projects!

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    1. I like painted furniture too, but really don't have any in my home, so this is a bit of a change.

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  15. Gosh, you have been busy! And hooray for the orbital sander!

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  16. I would have called that a sewing table. I think it will be beautiful stained/varnished. I hate when I have to paint wood.

    Paula

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    1. Well the table is not being painted, just the little boxes & stool. I hate to cover up any wood with a nice grain in it.

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  17. You have been busy, and what a great job you did on those pieces of furniture. Can't wait to see how they turn out when finished :)
    Have a great weekend, Wendy.

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    1. Thanks Hilde, I was busy again with them yesterday and it's all improving nicely :) Enjoy your weekend

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  18. Wowza girlfriend! You have taken sanding projects to a new level!:D I redid my dining room set several years back which included the pedestal oval table and four chairs. I sanded them down with a palm sander (you use what you've got and I think next time an orbital sander goes on my shopping list). I painted everything white and then stenciled the table and the chairs... it took me forever and I was sure I was going to fall over from pure exhaustion!:D Next sanding job I'll just send it over to you, :D
    Hugs and hope you are enjoying the last of summer,
    Beth P

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  19. Wow, that's a lot of work doing an entire set of table & chairs!! Don't you feel great after it's all over and you have a 'brand new' set! Now I keep eyeing things in my house that I'd like to work on next .... I think I'm making my husband nervous ;)

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  20. Wow! You've been busy!! I love that smoking table all sanded down. The wood is lovely. Definitely would keep it like that. So much nicer than that dark stain that was on it. Great work! Tammy

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    1. Thanks Tammy ... I'll be back at it again this week. I agree, the smoking table will be finished to show off that nice wood.

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  21. I came over from Tammy's blog to say hi, and wow, I like all your wooden furniture projects.

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    1. Hi Terra, and welcome to my blog :) Hopefully more progress will continue on these projects this week.

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  22. OH my gosh Wendy you were busy! All the sanding... good thing you had a tool! I bet they are all going to look stunning when they are finished! I love the rocking basket, how so very kitsch :) Have a great week my friend xxx

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    1. Thanks Hazel! I like the rocking basket too, and I even made a liner for it awhile back.

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  23. I am just the same way and have a bunch of projects lined up to complete before the weather gets really cold. Your projects are all off to a good start. I really like the basket and think it would be interesting to paint it a country color. Have you ever seem Homestead House acrylic paints? They come in a number of great country colors: http://www.homesteadhouse.ca/index.html I can just imagine it filled with a bunch of dried hydrangeas. I also like the detailing on the smoking table. Can't wait to see how everything turns out!

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    1. I should really be washing the windows & putting a coat of paint on a couple of old wooden windows in the kitchen ... but you know how fun stuff takes priorities :) I'll check out the link ... thank you for the suggestion Jennifer! Have a great week.

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  24. I love your precious wooden pieces that have been waiting for you to give them new life!! Oh, how I would love to be working with you on these treasures!
    I am anxious to see how they all turn out(beautifully!) I LOVE the Smoking Table-wow!
    Happy Autumn Hugs,
    Jemma

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    1. I have some of them completed now, and I'll take some photos once the rain clears off (smoking table is still waiting). Thanks for dropping in :)

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  25. wow, you are very inspiring I have been meaning to do exactly the same to my grandmothers old dresser, and thanks to you I think I will. Great work!!

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    1. Thanks for dropping in! Glad to have been some inspiration for you :)

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