How To Restore Dining Chairs

How do you restore old dining chairs?

Tired dining chairs are usually worth saving. Most of what makes them look past it — scuffed paint, a wobbly leg, a loose arm — is repairable in an afternoon or two, and the sequence is always the same: repair the structure first, clean the surfaces thoroughly, strip anything that will not take a new coat, then prime and paint. Allow 4 to 6 hours.

The order matters. Painting over a wobbly joint just gives you a freshly painted wobbly chair, and painting over a surface that has not been cleaned properly gives you a coat that peels within a year. The cleaning step in particular does more for the finished result than the paint does.

What you need

• A suitable Selleys adhesive for the repairs — see below
• Selleys Original Sugar Soap
• Methylated spirits and/or mineral turpentine
• A paint stripper such as Selleys Kwik Strip, if there is stubborn old paint
• Primer, and your topcoat
• A paint roller and brush, and a paint tray
• Gloves, and outdoor space if you are stripping

Step 1 — assess and repair

Identify any cracks, scratches or other damage that needs repairing, and select the appropriate adhesive or filler for the job. Wobbly legs and loose arms are the two most common faults, and both are glue joints that have failed rather than timber that has broken.

For interior timber furniture, the Selleys wood glue range is the relevant family. Aquadhere Interior is a PVA wood adhesive for interior woodworking — furniture assembly and cabinet making — and is not water resistant, which is fine for indoor chairs. Aquadhere Quick Set is the fast-setting version for softwoods, hardwoods, MDF and particleboard, also interior only. Aquadhere Durabond is a moisture-curing polyurethane with a clamp time of about 4 hours and maximum strength in 24 hours; it expands as it cures and can be used for gap filling, which suits a loose joint that has worn oversize — though its data sheet notes it is not recommended for structural applications.

Whichever you use, the principle for a failed chair joint is the same: get the old glue out, get the joint clean and close-fitting, apply adhesive and clamp it properly. Glue squeezed into a dirty, loose mortice without cleaning it out will fail again in months.

Step 2 — clean every surface

Clean all surfaces of the chair using Selleys Original Sugar Soap. If part of the chair is a non-porous material such as metal, clean that with mineral turpentine and then again with methylated spirits.

Original Sugar Soap is a concentrate. For most jobs, dilute half a cup into half a bucket — about 5 litres — of water. It is a professional-strength cleaner designed for surface preparation before painting, and cutting through years of hand grease and furniture polish is exactly what it is for. Paint will not adhere over either.

Do not use Original Sugar Soap on aluminium or brass. These metals can be tarnished or discoloured by it, and if you do get it on them, wipe it off immediately. That is a real risk on dining chairs, which often have brass tacks, studs or castors, or aluminium frames. Clean metal components with mineral turps and methylated spirits instead, as the method says.

Step 3 — strip stubborn old finishes

If there is old, difficult-to-remove residue such as old paint, a paint stripper such as Selleys Kwik Strip can be used. Make sure the surface is dry before applying the product.

Kwik Strip is a rapid-action, solvent-based paint and varnish remover, heavily bodied so it stays put on vertical surfaces — which is most of a chair. Its published directions are specific, and worth following exactly:

• Use outdoors only. Methylene chloride vapour is harmful on prolonged exposure. Move the chair to an open, shady outdoor area for adequate ventilation, avoid inhaling fumes and wear gloves.
• Apply a thick, even coat, 2–3 mm thick, with a paint brush. Work in small sections to avoid the paint rehardening.
• Allow 15 minutes for the paint to blister completely before removing it with a scraper or steel wool. On delicate wood, use a non-metallic scourer instead, to avoid damaging the timber.
• Scrub the surface with warm water, but do not use excessive water. On fine woods where there is a danger of raising or swelling the grain, use methylated spirits instead.
• Allow the surface to dry thoroughly before repainting.
• Wash the applicator brush in water and screw the lid on tightly after use.

A useful preparation tip from the data sheet: lightly sandpaper or score the paint first to enhance stripping.

Kwik Strip limitations

• Not suitable for application to fibreglass, PVC, acrylics, linoleum, rubber or plastics. Relevant on chairs with plastic feet, vinyl seat trim or moulded components.
• Will not remove Kalsomine, penetrating stains, or some specialist industrial finishes.
• Methylene chloride-based strippers can darken some timbers. If you plan a clear finish rather than paint, test the stripper on an inconspicuous area first.
• Do not use hot air guns or torches with paint stripper.

Step 4 — prime and paint

1. Pour a small amount of primer into a paint tray and apply it with a combination of roller and brush, coating the chair evenly.
2. Allow the primer to dry completely.
3. Use a fresh roller to coat the rest of the chair in your paint. Wait until the first coat is dry, then apply a second.
4. Depending on how uneven the surface is, you may want a third coat. Leave it to dry.

Paint chairs in contrasting colours for a mixed set, or stick to a single colour for a striking monotone look.

Common questions about restoring dining chairs

What should I fix first?

The structure. Identify cracks, scratches and loose joints and repair them before cleaning and painting — paint over a wobbly joint is still a wobbly joint.

How do I dilute Original Sugar Soap?

For most jobs, half a cup into half a bucket — about 5 litres — of water.

Can I use Sugar Soap on brass tacks or aluminium frames?

No. Original Sugar Soap can tarnish or discolour aluminium and brass. Wipe it off immediately if it makes contact, and clean metal parts with mineral turps followed by methylated spirits instead.

Can I use Kwik Strip indoors?

No. Its directions say to use it outdoors only, in an open shady area, because methylene chloride vapour is harmful on prolonged exposure. Wear gloves and avoid inhaling fumes.

How long do I leave the stripper on?

Allow 15 minutes for the paint to blister completely before scraping. Work in small sections so the paint does not reharden.

How thick should I apply the stripper?

A thick, even coat 2–3 mm thick, applied with a brush.

Will the stripper damage the timber?

Methylene chloride-based strippers can darken some timbers, so test on an inconspicuous area first if you intend a clear finish. On delicate wood use a non-metallic scourer rather than a scraper or steel wool.

My chair has plastic or vinyl parts. Can I still strip it?

Not with Kwik Strip on those parts — it is not suitable for application to fibreglass, PVC, acrylics, linoleum, rubber or plastics.

Can I speed the stripping up with a heat gun?

No. Do not use hot air guns or torches with paint stripper.

Which glue is best for a wobbly wooden chair?

The Selleys wood glue range is the relevant family for interior timber furniture. Aquadhere Interior and Aquadhere Quick Set are both interior-only PVA adhesives for furniture and joinery; Aquadhere Durabond is a polyurethane that expands as it cures and can fill a worn joint, with a clamp time of about 4 hours and maximum strength in 24 hours.

Do I need to clean the joint before regluing?

Yes. The Selleys adhesives all require clean, dry, close-fitting surfaces. Old glue and dust in a mortice will cause the repair to fail again.

How many coats of paint?

Two as standard, with a third depending on how uneven the surface is — each coat over a fully dried previous one, on top of a completely dry primer.