Family Table:
This table may have started off in another home with others gathered around it, but through the process it has been prepared to be our new family table. It means a lot to me to not only finish a project but to finish a project that will bring so many opportunities and memories for my home and family. Tonight we had our first family meal at this table: laughter, conversations, memories were shared with everyone I love sitting at this table. Then God has provided me the opportunity to share this table with a group of women seeking Christian community and seeking the Lord. To think, if I never opened my home and was too afraid it wasn’t just right or perfect what I would have missed out on tonight. I thank God daily for the opportunities he places in my life to love people. #thedillards #familytable #wsyas
How I transformed the table [Process]
1. You need a paint brush and this awesome paint stripper.
2. You will want to paint the stripper on fairly thick. You can leave it on for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours depending on the coats of paint you have on the wooden item you are stripping.
3. You will need a sturdy putty knife/scrapper. This is the one I use, and you can get it in different widths - I suggest the 1.5"
4. You may need to repeat steps 2-3 depending on how many layers of paint, stain, poly, etc. are on the wooden surface.
5. Once you have all the paint, stain, varnish, poly, or anything else on the wooden surface scraped off, you will need to clean the surface of the wood with mineral spirits. You can purchase low-odor varieties, which is great if you are working in a less ventilated area. Here is a low-odor option here.
6. Once you have the surface cleaned, allow it to dry completely. Then you are able to sand the table. Sanding will let you get any residue you missed during the stripping process and it will get rid of any imperfections in the wooden surface.
7. Sand using a 50 or 60 grit sand paper. My suggestion would be using a small belt sander or mouse/palm sander for this process. Make sure to go with the GRAIN of the wood each time you sand!
Belt Sander:
Mouse/Palm Sander:
8. You will need to repeat the process of sanding with a 120 grit then 210 grit sand paper. I would suggest purchasing a multipack of sanding pads.
9. Clean all debris from the table. I suggest using a hand broom and then a damp paper towel to clean the surface. Ensure the surface is dry before beginning the painting or staining process.
10. Paint or Stain time! You will need to select if you want to repaint the table or stain it. I stained my table in this redo. I used Minwax English Chestnut - it's a beautiful and rich color with a very subtle red-brown tone. It is a very traditional antique stain and was a perfect fit for this table.
If you want to paint the table, at this point with the raw wood, you would be able to use any type of paint you wanted. But I love Amy Howard Chalk Paint!
11. *THE STAIN MUST BE COMPLETELY DRY BEFORE MOVING ON TO THE LAST STEPS! (FYI from painful experiences in this DIY fail!)
Protective finish: I used poly in a satin finish to properly protect and finish my table. I used Minwax Quick Drying Poly to finish my project. You will need to follow the directions on the can of poly.
12. Ventilate the work area you are using. Turn on some fans, point them at the table and be patient. Very patient. I suggest not trying to poly on a humid or rainy day -- the moisture in the air will prevent the poly from curing in a timely manner.
13. Once the poly is dried, or cured, then you can set the table, invite some friends and/or family over and enjoy your new table!
