How to Refinish Antique Tables With Tole Painting

Tole painting is the process of adding detailed decorative elements to a piece of furniture, pottery or tin. This style of painting has been used for centuries to create one-of-a-kind works of art on household items. The designs are hand painted with oil paints using a special process that builds layers of paint on top of each other to create depth. Refinishing furniture that has been hand painted should be carefully considered. Some Tole pieces may be very valuable and will be ruined by refinishing. Consult an antique appraiser to understand the value of your piece before removing the hand artwork. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Move the furniture outdoors and place it on top of a tarp. Paint stripper is noxious and messy. It is preferable to work outside if at all possible. Put on protective eyewear, rubber gloves and a mask to protect you from the chemicals.

2

Apply a thick layer of paint stripper to the furniture piece. Allow the stripper to work on the surface of the paint for 20 to 30 minutes.

3

Test a spot on the furniture to see if the paint is softened. Once the paint can be easily removed, the stripper has done its job. Scrape off the old paint with a scraper. Wipe the paint residue from the scraper onto a rag as you proceed. Remove as much paint as you can with the scraper.

4

Sand the furniture with medium grit sandpaper. Remove the remaining paint with the sandpaper.

5

Switch to fine grit sandpaper. Sand the entire piece of furniture to get a smooth, paint free piece of furniture. You should now be working with bare wood.

6

Paint or stain the furniture. Apply paint or stain with a good quality paintbrush. Paint should be applied in 2 to 3 thin coats. Multiple thin coats of paint will be more durable than one thick coat. Apply stain with a paintbrush. Wipe away excess stain with a clean rag. Continue applying stain and wiping away the excess until you achieve a finish that you like.