How do you know what base varnish or stain was used if your refinishing an old yard sale table? What product can I use as a base primer so all the other mediums I use will adhere? And I'd like to know if I can use oil or acrylic to paint a picture on the top surface of the table then vanish over the picture after the medium dries to keep the mural?
By Ali
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To get new paint to adhere, you will need to sand the table down. Paint won't adhere to varnish (it will to stain but the stain may bleed through). So, sand it down. Then paint it with a primer. If it bleeds through the primer in any spots, you will need to apply a second coat. After that drys well, you can paint and do your picture. After your picture is very good and dry, put a clear wood/pain shellac over it. You will want more than one coat of the shellac--follow the directions on the can, as some require a light sanding in between coats.
We have done this with several old tables. Only, instead of painting a picture, we paint a checker board. They sit on our front porch and get used every year during our annual July 4 parties and fall bonfires.
You can use TSP to remove the finish, then paint.
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