Hi Folks,
I've been pretty much a lurker here for awhile but find myself looking for some advice from the pros.
I just purchased an old walnut sideboard / buffet. It turned out to be in rougher condition than I thought it was when I agreed to buy it. There are some pretty bad chips in the veneer on the face,and sides of the piece and a dog seems to have gnawed on the bottom of it. (If it were my dog, it's name would be Target) Amazingly, the top is pretty much undamaged with only a few teeny tiny little spots that I had to fill. I think they will be unnoticeable. Some slight rings that I am confident will disappear when I stain it.
I have it pretty well stripped and sanded. The top is ready for stain and polyurethane. I am going to paint the bottom of it black. Before you get out your whipping sticks, please know that this is NOT a rare collector's piece. It has several places that needed to be filled. Painting it will make it match the antique walnut dining room table I rescued 15 years ago. It was also terribly damaged on the legs and still looks beautiful.
I hate painting pretty wood, but there really is no choice at this point.
I plan on using spray acrylic enamel with a satin clear coat on the bottom, how would you recommend I prime the wood before I paint it?
I'm knowledgeable in most refinishing and have done quite a bit of it, but I have not really had to put paint on raw wood before.
Would just a coat of clear to seal it then a light sanding with 0000 steel wool? Sanding sealer (IMO) always seems to lift the grain, thus requiring quite a bit more sanding than I wanted to do but I will if I have to.
Thank you in advance,
Kate