How to Paint My Dining Table

HI T.,
You probably already have completed this project. My name is P. and I do interior redesign and staging. In my experience you would have to give it a lite sand so that the primer would adhere, then you could paint your table with a good grade of black high gloss. To acheive a real good finish you should do a very fine sand between coats and for durability you should have at least two coats if not three.
Let me know if I can help you with anything else.
P.

Hey T...Way cool idea on saving money and making something old, new again. If your table and Chairs have a shiny finish as I am sure it does. You will have to sand it down completely, every nook and cranny. To insure the next primer and paint will stick. Becaue it is a table and will have lots of wear, you will want to find a very good primer and a very durable paint, and varnish if you want to seal it all really well after ward. The best thing to do is go to your nearest home depot, lowes, etc. and ask what types of primer and paints will be best for the job and if the paint you choose should have a protective finish added to it. Good luck and have fun.

I have done that a few time and it is a long process if you want to do it the right way. Yes you would first have to sand it, and yes you have to prime it, i recommend that you go to lowes or any of stores if you have more questions.

A good idea might be to look it up on the internet, or ask the people in the hardware store. They'll tell you exactly what you need to do, and buy. That's what I've done in the past. Good luck!
~Susan
www.cafepress.com/littlegoogoo

You don't HAVE to sand, although I think it often looks better when it's sanded first, and it does help the paint adhere better.

You do need a primer though, and if you are painting it black you will need a dark base primer. Ask the guy at the paint counter which would be best for black. I used a brown primer on mine.

Personally, I like latex paint because it is easier to work with, but some prefer oil based because it can adhere better to wood.
Enamel is another good choice. It is very durable and has a high gloss, but is also more expensive. I have found it at Big Lots though for a good price. As long as you use an appropriate primer for whichever paint you use, it should be fine. You will probably want a gloss or semi-gloss paint since flat paint tends to scratch off or get marked really easy.

Anyhow, just be sure to fill in any holes, cracks, etc., sand if necessary and use a good primer. As long as you aren't using flat paint you probably won't need a top coat or sealant.

If you frequently spill liquids on the table(and they sit there for awhile), or have hot objects directly on the table, I would suggest skippind the pain, and stain it instead. In that case you WOULD have to sand it completely, and apply a varnish or sealant after the stain, but it would be much more permanent and durable. You can get wood stain in black (or ebony), although it may take two or three thin coats to get it to the darkness you want. It may also take a lot longer, and will HAVE to be done outdoors as stain and varnish have much more fumes.

Any other painting questions, fell free to drop me a line!