Expert: Eileen Cronk - 1/12/2008

Question
How do I prepare to paint old furniture that was refurbished about 15 years ago with a MINWAX oil finish??..Do I proceed in the usual fashion,i.e.,sand, tack cloth, prime,paint?..Or, are there other steps involved?

Answer
Hi Donna
Nice to hear from you.
You got it right Donna.
The only caution I offer is avoid aggressive sanding that may penetrate down to the wood.
This is only to ensure that if at some point down the road you or someone else decides to strip the paint and restore the piece that no damage has been done.
You could certainly use steel wool dipped in a TSP solution to deglaze and prep the surface if you don't want the mess of sanding.
Good Luck and great question
Regards
Eileen