Expert: Eileen Cronk - 3/2/2008

Question
Dear Eileen,
I am the proud owner of my grandfather's old rocking chair. (50-75 years old) I have been layering spray paint on it for years. Poor chair is a mess. I'd like to clean it up and repaint. Frame is made of spindles, rocker boards and flat arms. Seat and back are rush.  I've thought of replacing the rush, but haven't due to patina and sentimental value. Can you help with a plan to restore it to at least looking fresh? (now it is peeling etc.)
thanks very much, Cathie

Answer
Hi Cathie
Nice to hear from you.
It will be a lot of work to prepare this chair for repainting if the present paint is peeling.
Sounds like it just has too many layers at present LOL.
So you'll need lots of sandpaper and maybe a scraper and lots of time.
There will be areas that you can use a palm sander of some sort and I would try my best to get one if I were you.
But first scrape all the loose areas down.
Then use the electric sander where you can.
Then sandpaper.
The spindles will be the worse to sand and if you cannot get your hand between them you can resort to coarse steel wool wrapped around and pulled back and forth from the front and back.
Of course the ideal would be to remove the paint but it will be a big job.
Once the surface is properly prepped its ready to paint.
It appears you treasure this chair and I feel with the proper prep you can have it looking very nice. So take your time with that step.
Then I would use spray paint. A couple of thin coats in your color choice. Spraying does a much nicer job than brushing in this application.
Good Luck and great question
Regards
Eileen