Refinishing Tips/Advice help please

Any info on this furniture would be great! I will be refinishing so any advice for a beginner please!

 

paint it white and black.....fits any decor....

 

Hello, did I upload my pics wrong?

 

History of Dixie Furniture:
Dixie Furniture (the manufacturer) - Founded in 1901 by Henry Link and several others in Lexington, NC. The name has been changed to Lexington Home Brands & they are still in business.

Dixie Furniture (the manufacturer) is not related to & should not be confused with the Dixie Furniture Company (which are stores that just sell furniture, not make it), located in Charleston, SC. Their first store opened in 1946.
Dixie Furniture Stores are located in Charleston, N. Charleston, & Waterboro, SC.
They do NOT carry or sell the Dixie stamped furniture.

I was sad to read this article...
See the article below from: http://www.furnituretoday.com/article/460428-lexington-to-close-former-dixie-plant

Lexington, N.C. to close former Dixie plant
By Powell Slaughter -- Furniture Today, August 25, 2003

 

I agree they were thumbnail versus full image.

 

I am thinking of maybe a navy blue!

 

go onto Pinterest and check out the painted furniture ideas. https://www.pinterest.com/search/pi...ted furniture before and after|autocomplete|2

 

Welcome to Antiquers, @jcap7452 -- When you finish, update this thread to show pictures of the new look!

 

This would be hard to refinish to anything pleasing. The original finish has a toner and speckling, that once removed, can not easily be replicated. The toning is particularly difficult to deal with. There will be places where it comes out and others where it resists stripping, leaving a very uneven look. Also not sure what the top coat is on this. Some of the modern lacquers are really hard to strip. Refinishing is probably best recommended for older pieces without sophisticated finishes. Paint would be the way to go with this one.

 

Any advice on good paint brands or if I need to paint with a certain color first?

 

So I find this particular pieces very easy to refinish - I guess it isn't considered refinishing actually. So you can make your own chalk paint by using plaster of paris and latex paint. It is cheaper or you can buy it from any craft store, online store or home depot/lowes. Why chalk paint? Because you don't have to strip the original finish off. it can be sealed with clear coat or wax. Very easy to use and a lot of fun. Google home made chalk paint. This is a good recipe. https://www.thenavagepatch.com/best-diy-chalk-paint-recipe/

 

The main thing with painting is to get the piece free of dirt and wax. Scrub down with soap and water first, then go over with mineral spirits. Any finish that is shiny will need to be lightly sanded or treated with a de-glosser. Once prepared, chalk paints are great for beginners.

 

They also gave me these three pieces (dresser with mirror and a nightstand). What type of wood are these? Do I paint these like I am painting the Dixie pieces or is there something I should be aware of? Also what type of wood are the two Dixie darker ones?

 

These pieces are solid oak. I would touch them up and use as they are.

Hard saying what the Dixie pieces are because the finish obscures the wood. They may have been billed as Pecan finish which was all the rage in the 70s. The wood was never really pecan.

 

Howard's Restor-A-Finish for the oak pieces.
Comes in Light Oak.
Then use their Feed and Wax.
https://www.howardproducts.com/product/restor-a-finish/

 

I agree on leaving the oak pieces.
Paint is the way to go on the others in my opinion as well. Blue seems to be in demand right now. I did this for someone a little while back

 

How is this for my step by step process? Please let me know if I should make any changes. Next I will be purchasing material listed in process.

1. Scrub with soap and water
2. Wipe down with mineral spirits to remove oils or wax
3. Sand (medium grit sandpaper or steel wool w/ detail) get all gloss finish off
4. Wipe down with tack cloth to remove any dust
5. Paint with chalk paint
Or
5a) Paint on primer (Zinsser 00904 B-I-N Pigmented Shellac Primer-Sealer & Stain Killer, White, 1 Quart)
5b) Sand again using a fine-grit sandpaper & wipe down with tack cloth removing all dust
5c) Paint using interior latex paint in a semi-gloss finish with small foam roller on main parts and good brush on crevices
-Flat finish will show every fingerprint and flaw and will be harder to clean.
-The glossier the finish, the easier to clean.
-Paint thin coats, and repeat: sand between each coat! This step is very important if you want to achieve an even finish.
-Usually paint 2-3 coats total
6. Protect/Seal - let last coat of paint dry for at least 24 hours. (Or just leave it alone and let it cure for about 30 days). -If you are using a white or extremely light color of paint, do NOT use polyurethane to seal your finish. It can yellow over time. On any other paint color, it should be fine, recommend Minwax Wipe-On Poly because it is extremely easy to use. (nice Satin finish.) Water-based topcoat like Minwax Polycrylic is easier to clean up and there aren’t as many fumes.
-Another option, that can be used on any color including whites, is furniture wax. Minwax Finishing Wax, just wipe it on (use cheesecloth to apply it), let it dry for 10-15 minutes, and then buff it with a clean cloth until you get it as shiny as you want it.
7. FINISHED! After you’ve sealed your furniture, leave alone for a day or two before using

**REMEMBER: Lightly sand your piece between EVERY SINGLE coat of paint. This helps you attain a much more professional and even finish. Be sure to remove the sanding dust each time