Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - refinishing to a darker tone
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silvermoonbean
03-17-07, 11:22 AM
I purchased a dining table; it is ebony ash veneer, looks almost black. I then found 4 dining chairs that I really like but they are solid oak frame stained expresso brown, not quite as black as the table. I want to paint/stain to match the table.
The refurnishing shop said that the process I want is called "tone and overcoat" meaning new lacquer color tints will be sprayed over the existing color to darken
it and then more clear coating can be put over that to protect or seal in
the color. This process costs $50-75 per chair.
How can I achieve the same process at home to save some money? Do you have any suggestions on this process, including products to use? Thanks!
The refurnishing shop said that the process I want is called "tone and overcoat" meaning new lacquer color tints will be sprayed over the existing color to darken
it and then more clear coating can be put over that to protect or seal in
the color. This process costs $50-75 per chair.
How can I achieve the same process at home to save some money? Do you have any suggestions on this process, including products to use? Thanks!
clockdaddy
03-17-07, 09:44 PM
Realistically, the price the fellow gave you is quite fair. Consider the expense of his supplies alone.
Let me explain it this way...The chairs may or may not have a finish that you can just spray another on top of it. Some finishes (like some urethanes) will wrinkle and lift which creates a HUGE problem. Then the chairs would have to be stripped and finished all over again.
Let's be positive about this and say the finish is safe to spray over. A special tinted finish called a Toner must be mixed to match the color you want. Keep in mind, black isn't always "black". Matching the chairs to the color on the table requires trial and error. What looks like a match when it's wet may be way off by the time it dries. Then, all the chairs have to be cleaned thoroughly with something like naphtha. This removes oils or polishes that may have been put on the chairs. Next, is the need to be scuff sanded using around a 320 grit sandpaper. Then wiped down again with a rag dampened with naphtha to remove dust and hand oils.
The application of any color must be done slowly in order to achieve a match. I have spent hours getting the right combinations of color to create a match.
After each coat of toner color the chairs should be light scuffed to keep the finish surface smooth. When you finally get the color right, then the finish coats can be put on. Again, this must be done with extra care because too much finish at once will dessolve the coats of color and thus you'll have a horrible mess. Again after each coat, the chairs should be scuffed again. I suggest that three finish coats be applied and allowed to dry 12 to 24 hours before even touching them again.
After the drying period, the chairs must be check for any roughness in the finish and those areas must be rubbed out and polished...
Do you still think his price was too high??
CD
Let me explain it this way...The chairs may or may not have a finish that you can just spray another on top of it. Some finishes (like some urethanes) will wrinkle and lift which creates a HUGE problem. Then the chairs would have to be stripped and finished all over again.
Let's be positive about this and say the finish is safe to spray over. A special tinted finish called a Toner must be mixed to match the color you want. Keep in mind, black isn't always "black". Matching the chairs to the color on the table requires trial and error. What looks like a match when it's wet may be way off by the time it dries. Then, all the chairs have to be cleaned thoroughly with something like naphtha. This removes oils or polishes that may have been put on the chairs. Next, is the need to be scuff sanded using around a 320 grit sandpaper. Then wiped down again with a rag dampened with naphtha to remove dust and hand oils.
The application of any color must be done slowly in order to achieve a match. I have spent hours getting the right combinations of color to create a match.
After each coat of toner color the chairs should be light scuffed to keep the finish surface smooth. When you finally get the color right, then the finish coats can be put on. Again, this must be done with extra care because too much finish at once will dessolve the coats of color and thus you'll have a horrible mess. Again after each coat, the chairs should be scuffed again. I suggest that three finish coats be applied and allowed to dry 12 to 24 hours before even touching them again.
After the drying period, the chairs must be check for any roughness in the finish and those areas must be rubbed out and polished...
Do you still think his price was too high??
CD