Pink Drop Leaf Table and Chairs

I am concerned about starting this project. The legs of all the chairs and the table have rot from being left on outside wet surfaces.
The pink is original.
I am throwing the question out there. What would you do?
sk
  14 answers
  • Lola Fields Lola Fields on Jul 25, 2014
    Are you going to take it inside? If so I would give a good coat of wax and leave it as is. If leaving outside I'm not sure what I would do.
  • Wood restoration co . Wood restoration co . on Jul 25, 2014
    i would dig out the rot on bottoms of legs ( a screwdriver works fine) and pack with some quik-wood putty or bondo, let it dry and let it fly ... maybe coat the piece with a matte clear varnish
    • SK on Elderberry SK on Elderberry on Jul 25, 2014
      @Wood restoration co . Thanks to you Wood Restoration. I know this will be the first step to who knows what. I do love the finish as is but having a hard time deciding to leave it PiNk...sk
  • SK on Elderberry SK on Elderberry on Jul 25, 2014
    Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more opinions. sk
  • Bev Bev on Jul 25, 2014
    I would seal the top of the table.Next I would repair and then repaint the legs a lightly contrasting color.
  • Katie Katie on Jul 26, 2014
    Do the things @wood restoration co . said. Then I would just give it very light sand to smooth the surface and wax it. I think it's gorgeous the way it looks!!
    • SK on Elderberry SK on Elderberry on Jul 27, 2014
      @Katie Thank you Katie. I do love the way it looks. But just needs a little TLC to preserve. sk
  • Chris aka monkey Chris aka monkey on Jul 26, 2014
    @SK on Elderberry whoa girlfriend you don't like pink?? can you imagine how gorgeously girly that table must have looked in it's hay day? i happen to love pink but this is your piece if you aren't loving the girly change it with your talent whatever you do will be fantastic xx
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jul 27, 2014
    If this is going to be outside, even under cover, I would think it needs a complete restoration. I would fix the legs as Wood Restoration Co. suggested, sand them down and then scrap off the loose, excess paint. I would then sand it and paint it with outdoor paint and distress it if you want it to look distressed. It all depends on how much work you want to put into this. But remember, these kinds of pieces are getting harder and harder to come across!
    • SK on Elderberry SK on Elderberry on Jul 27, 2014
      @Jeanette S Thanks Jeanette. You are so correct these are very hard to find. I have to make sure it survives another fifty or more years. sk
  • Trash Find Redesigned Trash Find Redesigned on Jul 27, 2014
    I myself would make any small repairs necessary then lightly sand off any hanging chips and put a matte polyurethane coating all over it. In keeping the pink, I might use small galvanized items on or around it and also add some purple flowers nearby. I would love to have this little cutie - good luck and have fun with it!
    • SK on Elderberry SK on Elderberry on Jul 27, 2014
      @Trash Find Redesigned Thanks Trash. Hmmmm. Thanks Trash Find Redesigned. I am working on it as we speak and have found I will be keeping it the pink and just preserving it for one of my daughters. sk
  • Sandra Sandra on Jul 27, 2014
    Love the table and chairs. You should be able to repair the rot with a wood filler and could put some table and chair leg floor protectors on the bottom to lift it off the floor surface. If I had it, I would repaint to protect it from moisture, even though it will be in a covered area, then distress with a stain.
  • Ashton Christie Ashton Christie on Jul 27, 2014
    My suggestion... Repair damaged wood ala "Wood Restoration" then scrap/sand dead stuff. Then I would go with a one part polyurethane spar varnish (I'd use a marine grade like Goldspar 95 by Interlux it has a faster drying time) at least 3 coats. Wet sand using 200/ 320 grit silicon carbide 1st coat, and 400 grit for 2nd coat. This has a high gloss to it if you want satan finish wet sand with 600 grit, 1200 for a semi- gloss finish. This will bring out the beauty of the bare wood while retaining the original finish and protect it from UV and water.
    • See 2 previous
    • SK on Elderberry SK on Elderberry on Jul 29, 2014
      @Ashton Christie I have learned a huge lot from old contractors and a farmer father. Thanks again. sk
  • If the bottom of the legs is where the decay is located, brass caps can be purchased that will go over the bottom of the legs. If you cannot get these, or the decay is higher up, simply cut each leg at the exact same spot and using doubled ended screws, cut new legs that look close to what you have and screw them together for a like new repair. You just need to carefully cut the leg square so when they become screwed together the leg stays straight.
  • SK on Elderberry SK on Elderberry on Jul 29, 2014
    I am now in the middle of this pink lady. I will be chipping fakes paint off, but keeping the old pint. I am sanding lightly as prescribed and waxing a three coat satin finish. I am paint the legs a slightly different color. All in all I think I will have a wonderful piece to sell. Thanks to everyone for the great insights. sk
  • Cindy Haskell Cindy Haskell on Jul 29, 2014
    Can't wait to see the results....you truly are a master at what you do already!
  • HeidiRoy Alcorn HeidiRoy Alcorn on Jul 31, 2014
    I am dying to see what you do with this project!
    • SK on Elderberry SK on Elderberry on Jul 31, 2014
      As the brain ages, the ideas come a bit slower. This is such an important piece for me I want to make sure I don't make any unfixable mistakes. So my mind is set on percolate mode. The owner can not be disappointed. I can not let that happen. So it sits waiting for that "ah ha" moment. sk