Shaker chair MAKEOVER
Alun Machin
AFTER Refurbished Shaker-style timber chair with a smooth matt white finish and Tiffany & Co coloured legs.
BEFORE Sturdy and without any structural wobbles but it had received lots of knocks, dents and scratches
THE MAKEOVER
If you plan to keep the chair the same colour, no need to completely remove the original paintwork. Just smooth it and ensure the surface is clean so the paint adheres.
As you go, tighten any screws to prevent wobbly legs and look for dents and deep scratches that may need to be smooth out with timber filler.
1. CLEAN THE SURFACE using course abrasive paper with a sanding block, removing chipped paint, dirt and scratches.
TIP Check out how to use a sanding block and which grits to choose.
2. REMOVE FLAKY PAINT from the spindles and any tricky areas using a paint scraper then smooth the edges with 80 grit abrasive paper.
3. SMOOTH ALL OVER using medium abrasive paper with a sanding block to make sure there are no more flaky bits.
4. WIPE AWAY THE DUST using a clean cloth to make sure the paint adheres evenly.
5. APPLY THE MATT PAINT spraying the chair all over lightly. Hold the can 250mm from the surface, start underneath, spraying the legs from all angles, then do the top. Leave to dry for about 30 minutes then lightly apply another coat.
6. APPLY PAINTERS TAPE to mark off the legs, measuring about 20mm down from the rails.
7. TAPE UP THE LEGS with plastic bags, taping them around the rails and the seat to avoid overspray.
8. SPRAY THE LEGS with a light coat, moving the can around to ensure all angles are covered, leaving to dry for 15 minutes then apply another light coat.
9. LEAVE TO DRY thoroughly, remove the plastic bags and pull the painter’s tape off at 45 degrees to avoid removing any paint.
10. TAP IN GLIDERS to protect the chair legs and the floor, plus it gives a nice professional finish.
