Can you paint over varnish?

I was given a coffee table that I'd like to revive... It doesn't have to look perfect, as I will buy a new coffee table when I can afford to. This coffee table is a gross orangey wood colour, and the rest of my furniture is a dark wood. I want to either remove the varnish off this one and stain is darker, or paint it. It's got lots of grooves on it, so sanding it is out of the question, it would take too long. I'd rather remove the varnish and paint it, but if this is too hard, maybe i'd just paint it (won't look any good though, i know)





What do you think is the most time and cost effective procedure to revive this coffee table? (And no, I don't want to throw a table cloth over it!)Can you paint over varnish?
Answered your last Q first before I saw ';coffee table';


Most likely a lacquer finish over maple which often had the gross orangey color.


If it is %26amp; just just ugly. an easy way to get good results would be to paint right over the old finish if it is tight %26amp; intact.


Answer this question often w/ same answer.


Make believe it is an auto fender %26amp; use spotting putty for dings, auto primer %26amp; paint in spraycans.


With a little patience it can look better than you think..


Some work but not as bad as trying to strip maple ( if that's what it is )


stain evenly , %26amp; then refinish esp if sanding is out of the question


Could also look into an ';antiquing kit'; which is also easy if you are into that sort of thing.


Best regardsCan you paint over varnish?
Hi,


The easiest method is to clean the surface with ammonia %26amp; water or tsp %26amp; water, rinse %26amp; allow to dry. After that sand lightly so it's smooth, then apply a coat of alcohol based primer like BIN or Kilz but must be alcohol based, it will adhere to the varnish. After the primer dries apply 2 coats of a satin or semi gloss paint. A good paint store will have paint made for the wear %26amp; tear of a table.
Sure, you could get a stripper and sand it down to bare wood and re stain it or you can paint over it with an oil base paint. Check what type of wood it is before trying to match your furniture because they will look different if they aren't the same even though you use the same color of stain.
Time and cost effective.


Ask someone you know to borrow a belt sander, Then stain it.


Better yet if they have a hand held electric planner along with the belt sander.


Done in 1/2 hr then 10min. next day for another coat of stain. Mini wax all in one.
dust it off and use zinsser 1-2-3 primer, let dry and then paint. I would do 2 coats of whatever paint you are going to use.
if you choose to paint it you have to sand first. you don't have to take it to bare wood but you have to roughen up the surface. otherwise the paint won't stick.


if you want to re-varnish you need to get as much of the old varnish off as possible. otherwise the areas with two separate coats of varnish will be darker and it will be extremely noticeable. there are some effective strippers out there that can be purchased at the home stores and use by a novice.