Help me cheaply paint a small kitchen table
October 23, 2019 8:00 PM Subscribe
The table top is made of bare particleboard, nasty crumbly stuff that I'd like to cover up with a strong layer of paint so I can continue using the table as kitchen counter space.
Table was $5 and looks it. What's the bare minimum I can do that will be an improvement over my current solution of covering it with scrap cloth, and not leave me stuck with lots of product I'll never use again? I may be able to use someone else's leftover paint but don't know what kind it is yet. Do I need primer? Polyurethane finish coat? Are spray cans a good option, so I don't have to buy entire quarts of product? Can I get away with not sanding? I have an outdoors location, a tarp, a particle mask, and hopefully plenty of calm dry fall weather.
Table was $5 and looks it. What's the bare minimum I can do that will be an improvement over my current solution of covering it with scrap cloth, and not leave me stuck with lots of product I'll never use again? I may be able to use someone else's leftover paint but don't know what kind it is yet. Do I need primer? Polyurethane finish coat? Are spray cans a good option, so I don't have to buy entire quarts of product? Can I get away with not sanding? I have an outdoors location, a tarp, a particle mask, and hopefully plenty of calm dry fall weather.
+1 for pour on bar top. I have used it for a desk/art table. Works great.
posted by AugustWest at 8:25 PM on October 23, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by AugustWest at 8:25 PM on October 23, 2019 [2 favorites]
If it's fairly sturdy, maybe just go find a different surface to place over the top. An old (even antique) door, some wood from the hardware store, the top of an old table with broken legs. You could probably find something for super cheap and waaaay less time.
You'd probably pay less than for a can of whatever paint you'd find.
You can even find table tops for sale by Home Depot.
- AM
posted by amtho at 8:40 PM on October 23, 2019 [3 favorites]
You'd probably pay less than for a can of whatever paint you'd find.
You can even find table tops for sale by Home Depot.
- AM
posted by amtho at 8:40 PM on October 23, 2019 [3 favorites]
You can buy sample cans, usually 1 pint for $5, at most paint stores or home centers. However, you might need more than 1 coat to hold it all together.
If you are not fussy about color, you can usually usually find mis-mixed paint for a discount. If you can find a quart of latex or acrylic, put on 2 or more coats, and you're done.
posted by H21 at 8:41 PM on October 23, 2019
If you are not fussy about color, you can usually usually find mis-mixed paint for a discount. If you can find a quart of latex or acrylic, put on 2 or more coats, and you're done.
posted by H21 at 8:41 PM on October 23, 2019
For projects like this, I buy pints or quarts from the oops table at the hardware store. I find that lunchtime to mid-afternoon Saturday is the sweet spot for the most options, since most people show up Saturday morning to buy their weekend project paint and that's the time things are most likely to go wrong.
Because that kind of wood sucks up paint, I pour my first layer on - big blob in the middle, roller at it over and over to spread as well as you can, then drizzle a ring around the outer layer and roller again. Once you've covered it well, you can finish with some kind of meaningful finish, whether that's a bit of actual nice paint or decoupage and some kind of pour over resin, or just a quart of good white paint to get a decent painted finish.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:58 PM on October 23, 2019 [3 favorites]
Because that kind of wood sucks up paint, I pour my first layer on - big blob in the middle, roller at it over and over to spread as well as you can, then drizzle a ring around the outer layer and roller again. Once you've covered it well, you can finish with some kind of meaningful finish, whether that's a bit of actual nice paint or decoupage and some kind of pour over resin, or just a quart of good white paint to get a decent painted finish.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:58 PM on October 23, 2019 [3 favorites]
With particle board and MDF, the first coat I put down is a 50:50 mix of wood glue such as Titebond Cllassic and water. Actually, I use two or three thin coats. This effectively seals the board and then I can top coat it with enamel or whatever.
posted by bz at 9:52 PM on October 23, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by bz at 9:52 PM on October 23, 2019 [4 favorites]
I wouldn't paint it. I would find a free or cheap piece of floor vinyl and glue it down with plenty of glue. You could even fold it around the edges (cut the corners so it folds neatly with no double material) and use some (not too long) nails to hammer it down from the bottom. It'll last forever.
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:00 AM on October 24, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:00 AM on October 24, 2019 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Can you just buy some oil cloth, fit it, and staple it to the bottom? Seems cheaper.
posted by beccaj at 6:22 AM on October 24, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by beccaj at 6:22 AM on October 24, 2019 [5 favorites]
You can buy small containers of craft paint at Michaels/Target/walmart for $2, all different colors, non toxic. They hold up pretty well. Probably 1 or 2 would be enough. Less messy and smelly than spray paint. It would probably work ok without a primer, if not just do a few coats of paint.
posted by j810c at 1:49 PM on October 24, 2019
posted by j810c at 1:49 PM on October 24, 2019
Find or buy some fabric - canvas or muslin would work well and look pretty good. Glue it down and poly it. I use a piece of vinyl fabric on my rusty outdoor table, and it works well, but is not stylish.
posted by theora55 at 12:04 AM on October 25, 2019
posted by theora55 at 12:04 AM on October 25, 2019
Response by poster: My local fabric store didn't have oilcloth but I did find vinyl fabric with a nice pattern. Very easy, I just draped it over. So much better!
posted by gray17 at 4:20 PM on October 30, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by gray17 at 4:20 PM on October 30, 2019 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
If it was me though I get some vinyl floor tiles or planks and glue them down with a construction adhesive. You can get tubes with built in dispensers.
posted by Mitheral at 8:17 PM on October 23, 2019 [1 favorite]