Expert: Greg Scholl - 2/4/2012

Question
I have a 1940's chest of drawers that originally was painted with an oil base paint and years later painted with latex paint.  Of course the latex has chipped and rubbed off in many places.  I was told to wash it down with TSP, and then it would be ready for latex again without the poor results as before.  And then I was also told to spray it with primer and then use latex.  What advise can you offer with your experience?  Thank you for any help you can offer.

Question #2:  I have an original finish buffet from the 1960's that I would like to paint with a latex paint.  Is TSP appropriate in this application?

Answer
Hi Julie, I am not a fan of using TSP solution to wash down wooden furniture.....your real problem lies under the paint layers with poor adhesion, and prepping the top most surface and painting it yet again will not solve that problem.You need to get down the the lowest layer, meaning strip the old paint off, in order to assure that you have the best adhesion possible. Likely, whomever painted it did not prep and clean the surface properly, and this is the reason the subsequent paint layers are failing.While it 's a fair amount of effort, the best course of action is to strip it. This is the only way to assure that the paint won't continue to fail underneath whatever you apply..........on the buffet, again I would not use a water solution to clean fine furniture. It can harm glue joints (Hide glues are water soluble), and swell wood fibers. I would clean with mineral spirits and 000 steel wool, working in small sections and drying with clean rags until you see no residue coming off on the rags. Then a "scuff" sand with something like 320-400 grit sand paper. This will etch the clean surface to give the primer maximum 'grip' follow with a good primer, (Zinsser's bullseye 1-2-3 is good) and finally 2-3 coats of a good quality paint designed for woodwork and cabinets...like Benjamin Moores Satin Impervo. In some areas this is still available in the original oil based formula, which is an excellent paint, but the waterborne version is also very good.You could also spray with primer and paint with Krylon or Rustoleum Universals, which will give you the smoothest finish, but it takes a bit of skill and technique to produce a Pro looking spray finish.....something that can be learned, however.Post back if need be- regards- Greg