Expert: Eileen Cronk - 8/17/2006

Question
My husband just brought me a new "project" to work on.  It's a small table with legs about 2 and a half feet tall.  The tabletop is kind of shaped like a flag (about 2 foot wide).  It has a small drawer.  Whoever owned it painted it black and tried to paint white diamond shapes on the tabletop...it didn't really work! LOL  But I think that underneath that less than gorgeous paint job might be a really beautiful piece of furniture...it just needs some help.
My question to you is...what would be the best way to take the paint off and then try to bring out the beauty of the wood underneath it.  I don't really think it is going to be "fine" furniture...the wood is rough and heavy...very solid.  Personally I like that look...kind of rustic.  I just would appreciate your advice and expertise.  Thank you very much for your help! :)

Answer
Hi Shelia
Nice to hear from you.
It sounds like you have a diamond in the rough here LOL.
The black paint will have to be taken off with paint stripper.
There is just no other way to do this.
It will be messy, but maybe worth the effort in the end.
You will have to get the paint off before any decision is made on how to enhance the underlying wood.
At this point we do not know what kind of wood this is.
Get back to me.
Kindest Regards
Eileen