I hope this story has a happy ending

Remember these guys? The table and chairs I found on Craigslist for $50.00.  My thought was I can give 'em a quick shot of white paint, a little distressing and maybe sell them and make a little profit.

Well, that's not how it went down. If you've found yourself envious of bloggers who find furniture dirt cheap and with a little spray paint turn end up with a show piece, not to worry. This story doesn't go down like that. Nope, there will be nothing to envy here, unless you wish you could spend countless hours in the stifling, sticky North Carolina heat sanding and scraping, stripping, and painting, then doing it all again.

The first coat of paint didn't stick. At all. I blame it on the south. Beware of any older item you wish to paint that has lived its life in a southern kitchen. There will be layers of grease. Layers and layers. You can clean it and sand it. It may look clean, but don't be fooled.

This was after the first round of failed painting- in the process of stripping off the paint.
Two $20 cans of paint stripper were purchased plus sand paper and paint. My $50 table has now cost me closer to $100. See all those little spindles? Not easy to sand, so I decided to buy a little mouse detail sander. $40.00.  Boy this cheap table and chairs really isn't so cheap anymore.

Finally all the paint and stain have been stripped. Now onto primer. I don't remember how much that was, I think $13.00 for a quart.  Anyone keeping count? I stopped. It was too painful.

Here's everything primed (by hand) ready to be sprayed. I mixed some paint I had and came up with a pale blue-y gray. Looked gray wet but more blue as it dried.  The paint went on nicely and stuck. And, I hated it. The color just didn't work with the style of the chair. I distressed the chairs and they distressed me. After all that work, I wanted to love them and I didn't.  In a moment of desperation, I grabbed a can of spray paint I had in the cabinet. And the angels began to sing a hallelujah chorus. Chairs officially done. For now.

Still working on the table top, but the legs are done.

The end is in sight.

I'm working on the top today. I had it finished, or so I thought,  but on a whim decided I just didn't like the color, so what the heck, I stripped off three layers of poly and started over.  Cause that's how I roll ~like a big ol' flat tire. 

Tomorrow I'll tell you why my hands smell like vinegar and rusty metal.

Comments

[Lynne in NC]

Autum,
You are the word "perseverance" in bodily form. Way to go! I can only imagine how much elbow grease this is all taking.
Thanks for sharing your process. It will certainly help someone else who needs to do a similar project.
Keep on truckin'..
Peace.

[Bev]

Oh, my. This sounds EXACTLY how this project would go in my hands - but stops right before the point where you liked what you did. I am no longer even tempted when I see someone blog about painting furniture. Even when they show the beautiful "after" results. The family saying around here when they see a can of paint in my hands: Something's about to get ruined.

But I'm impressed with your perserverence!!

[Caron Mosey]

Too bad you're not in mid-Michigan... that's what my husband does for a living. www.MoseysWoodworks.com

[Autum]

Wow Caron! Beautiful, beautiful work.
The round primitive tavern table on his site looks very much like what Im going for with my table. Too bad Im not in mid Michigan.

[jackie]

That sounds like how it would go for me. I am definitely not finding any of these dirt cheap furniture finds that so many others do. That table and chairs probably would have been 100 at our GW store. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out. Be careful with all of those fumes. Jackie

[lisa]

You will be glad that you bought the sander though. I have one and have used it a ton.

[TracyKM]

We don't count tools in the cost of projects...unless you throw the tool out after :)
It's a very pretty colour. We just found a nice wicker rocking chair at the curb and my husband asked what colour we're painting it. I said white, of course. What other colour "can" you paint wicker? LOL. He wants something funky. Maybe a funky cushion instead!

[April]

Wow. You've got patience! They are a beautiful set and I'm very envious that you have the space to do all this. There is no way I could even think about a project like this. Can't wait to see how it all turns out!

[sarah of handbagsnpigtails]

Ugh, I totally feel your pain on this one. Ive been re-doing pieces, little by little, on the side. Sorry to say theyre not all as easy as they look on other blogs:) Hang in there. I cant wait to see the finished products!

[Elaine]

All the time and money you've put into the table and chairs were well worth it....looks wonderful! Love that color blue too! Think it will be pretty on front door with your house being white and shutters black.

[Autum]

My garage is a disaster April. I do all the painting in the yard, so thats pretty much a mess right now too. My house, thats a mess too. Not sure why I get myself into these things. Its an illness.

[Autum]

Ive done some things that have been easy. This one is definitely not one of them. Its really trying my patience. I just hold onto the hope it will be beautiful. One of these days...

[Autum]

Thank you Elaine!

[Karen Crosby]

My hubby would have put them on the burn pile before I got as far as you did. Whew! They are making you work for it.

[sheena]

that's ALWAYS how it goes. Nothing is easy....or cheap!

except for that stain:) I hope you liked it! I LOVE your blog!

[Autum]

I loved the stain. I was amazed at how well it worked and how evenly it covered. Im so glad I found your blog when I did!