How to Prepare Antique Furniture for Painting

Correctly preparing antique furniture for a new coat of paint is the secret to a professional-looking finish. Many people discover antique furniture treasures at garage sales or thrift shops. Often these pieces need refinishing. Whether the piece is a bargain or a beloved heirloom, adding a coat of paint is an effective way to protect the furniture and seal the wood. It is also effective in keeping the antique looking attractive for many years to come.

Safety goggles
Work gloves
Face mask
Screwdriver
Putty knife
Fine grit sandpaper (320)
Vacuum cleaner with attachments
Cellophane tape
Primer
Paintbrush
NIOSH-approved respirator (optional)
Power sander (optional)
Heat gun (optional)
Cleaning cloth (optional)
Bleach (optional)
Trisodium phosphate (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Move the furniture to a well-ventilated area. Set it on top of a drop cloth.
- 2
  Put on protective goggles, work gloves and a face mask.
- 3
  Pull out any drawers in the furniture. Remove any hardware, such as drawer pulls or hinges, with a screwdriver.
- 4
  Scrape any loose or peeling paint with a putty knife.
- 5
  Sand the furniture with 320 grit sandpaper all that areas that require painting. If the paint still looks sound, only smooth the rough edges. Continue sanding until the surface feels smooth. Fold the sandpaper to get into any nicks in the wood.
- 6
  Vacuum the antique furniture with a brush attachment for this step.
- 7
  Place strips of cellophane tape on the furniture to test the surface. Do this in random areas. If it is a small piece, use only two or three strips. Rip the tape off. If it comes off cleanly, the furniture is ready to paint. If there is paint on the tape, sand the antique a bit more until the tape test comes clean.
- 8
  Apply primer paint to the wood with a paintbrush. Allow it to dry completely.
- 9
  Sand the furniture again lightly, just enough to smooth any rough sections.

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