Any woodworkers?

So I picked up a rocking chair at a garage sale a while back for 5.00. It was good and solid. Except the finish was trashed. Not sure if it is paint or stain. Either way I am working on sanding it down and fixing a couple things on it.
My question is in order to stain it a dark stain do I need to get the old paint/stain off? It seems like it bled into the wood pretty deep. Anybody got some advise experience?

 

Yes you will need to sand any old finish (paint/stain/poly) before the new stain can absorb.

If you're worried about sanding too much because the old finish is deep into the wood, maybe just prime and re-paint.

 

You could try a paint/varnish stripper. Most are good at softening the existing finish, making it easy to remove (albeit a bit messy).

After stripping, some sanding will be required, but not nearly as much as you have already done.

 

depending how dark of stain it is it could cover it up. Looks like that old stuff is pretty deep, prime and paint might be the best bet.

 

If he used a dark stain, wouldn't those spots just add some kind of character though and just look like dark brown/black spots? That particular piece in some classic dark brown stain might look the part of an old rocking chair, IMO.

Part of the appeal of old chairs is their imperfection. An old chair that looks new is really kind of a shame.

 

Sold 4 tree swings today!
Got two almost finished, one is cherry the other eastern red cedar.
Image is with no finish on them.

 

Everything has been sanded. Ready to glue it back together. Busy the next couple days but itching to get back to work on it. Probably won't stain it until it starts warming up outside.

 

Gonna be truly satisfying to kick back in that thing when you're done!

 

$10.00 garage sale find last summer. Never got this in depth on a project like this. I have until august to finish. My wife and I'd first child is due then.

 

That's great man, congratulations!

 

Let's post pics of our woodshop/workspace.
Here's my humble little woodshop. 16x20'
It's not nearly complete but I like it, I built it myself when we bought our cabin.

 

With 1 coat tung.


2nd coat applied and drying. We'll see how it looks after this one and a possible 3rd coat.


I think after I apply one more coat of Tung I'll be shopping around for an epoxy to use. I need to see if there are any good clear epoxys that can be wet sanded/buffed. Plan is to attempt to fill in the worm holes with an epoxy before applying it on the entire slab.

 

Very nice sir

 

a friend used bartop epoxy on his bar. it was very clear.

 

Thank you sir. I have a little more appreciation for these thorny bastards now.

That's where I want to go with his project - that glassy look.

 

Is it some kind of locust?

 

Yup. A honey locust.

 

Nice, but not so nice to work...

 

That stuff is tough as nails...