July 7, 2010

DIY chair refinishing

Remember this bad boy?

I sanded the chair outdoors which was a must since it got kind of messy to sand through about three coats of previously-applied paint:

After sanding, I applied two coats of spray-on primer which I didn't take a photo of.  I then sprayed several coats of red paint and was sure after a letting each coat dry for a bit of time to flip over the chair to get all the nooks and crannies:

And now, the final outcome!

I enjoyed working on the chair, and I learned a few things along the way:
  • I skimped on sanding and I shouldn't have.  My impatience got the best of me and looking close-up, it's evident that I did a less-than-stellar job.  But someone else's "imperfect" is my "rustic."  And that's the story I'm sticking to.
  • One can of spray paint was not enough even though the chair is child-size, so before I start in on an adult-size chair, I'll be sure to have at least two or three cans on-hand.
  • I should have used a drop cloth.  While I didn't care about putting paint onto the grass because it's due to be mowed any day now, it was a royal pain to get random bits of grass out of the chair that stuck on while it was drying. 
  • High-gloss paint was the right choice.  It might have been overkill, but I also applied a clear gloss varnish after the paint dried.  Can you blame me for liking shiny?
Photobucket

8 comments:

  1. Great crime scene.
    I will use your tips if I [EVER] attempt to repaint a little red rocking chair we have...for now we go for the rustic look with one of the legs unpainted.

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  2. glad you picked red - looks fantastic! And I am so jealous you even have grass to mow... ours is a dried, dead sad existance!

    hugs! Kim @ http://frostmeblog.blogspot.com
    party inspiration

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  3. Looks great! And I love the red!!

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  4. It looks great!! Nice job. I'll definitely take your advice- we are in the middle of refinishing the piano, and I was thinking about being done with the sanding. . . but I might just sand a little bit more :]

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  5. The chair looks great! And I don't think I would be up for sanding it much more...really, that is so much work!
    Great job! I have a few things that I need to spray paint for a little project I am working on in the girls room...more coming on that one!

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  6. Your chair looks great. I am about to do my own chair redo. ha. looks wonderful now I am inspired to actually do it.

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  7. Wow, that looks great! That takes some patience and time I'm sure. I've enjoyed browsing your blog ;D

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