Newbie needs advice

[belle2]

Hello, I am an artist and my only woodworking experience is making stretchers for canvas LOL.

I have bought an old buffet which I want to convert into a bathroom vanity. It is currently varnished.

I want to strip the top and have it looking like bare timber but need to water proof it well. Any advice?

The main part of the cabinet I envisioned with liming or milk paint. I rang Porters and they told me that their products are not really recommended for bathroom use as the finish is fragile.

I had envisioned (correct me if I am wrong) painting the varnished cabinet with penetrol and then undercoating it before putting on a final finish. I don't think a high gloss would look good.

I have ordered a handpainted vanity basin from Mexico to hopefully sit on top of the bench saving the drawers or if the plumbing doesn't work out to insert into bench top. and make the drawer fronts decorative only.

[Horsecroft88]

Sounds like an interesting project you have there to do. I too had thought about trying something similar but gave up in the end as I couldn't find anything suitable to convert. I do like the idea of the Mexican handpainted bowl. I think we too looked at similar items, plus some others from northern Africa etc. But had bought a white modern one in the meantime.

Ok re stripping the top, probably you have two ways of doing this, if real varnish then I would have thought applying paint stripper and using coarse grade steel wool (use gloves) should clean most of it off and then use an orbital sander with fine grade paper (or sand by hand) to finish off the surface. If it had an old shellac finish, you might be able to strip this using metho and steel wool or if necessary paint stripper.

As to sealing it but somehow making it look as if there is no coating surface on it, this might be really tricky. I am not aware of any such product. Do you know what timber the buffet is made of eg, pine, hardwood, etc ?? as this might dictate what you can use. Remember any wood that is left uncoated (unprotected) will over time be subject to attack from mould or rot, if water sits on it and more importantly can get into the open grain of the timber. Possibly you might get away with say using one of the burnishing oils and waxing it. That possibly would give you the least heavy coating to the piece.

Re the use of milk paints or lime washes I am not sure as I havn't tried these out yet.. I do have their colour chart at home and I think it gives some ideas in it as to the sorts of applications different paint types are suitable for. I can have a look and give you some further info later.

Hopefully others will chime in with plenty of good suggestions.

[belle2]

Thanks for advice. I saw in another thread which talked about finishing with boat epoxy and then sanding to give matt finish. Maybe that would work. Or maybe 1 pot oil based matte estapol?

No idea what the wood is, I have no experience in this. If the top gets wrecked my husband is agreeable to a granite top but I want to try the wood first.

I bought the buffet mainly because of the size and it opened the possibility of keeping the drawers as there is a 5 cm gap between them. It has a rather lovely arched hutch with shelves and glass doors which sadly I can't use. I'll try and sell on ebay maybe.

The varnished finish on the buffet is in good condition and maybe will look OK but I'm thinking it needs to be lighter. Thinking maybe painting it a bright green and terracotta and then washing matte white all over. Would be in keeping with Mexican theme but don't want my house to look like a Mexican restaurant!!

I have a couple of months to think about it as the sink has to be made before transportation here. (Hopefully in one piece)

[belle2]

I am not very much further on my quest for a new vanity. I have decided to have the top coated with Granite Transformations. Still haven't decided what to do with the cupboard itself and it will probably be installed as it is until I make a decision (it's varnished).
The major problem is that I bought the cupboard because it was the right style, fitted the space and had room for plumbing allowing me to keep the drawers BUT it is made from crap (particle board and stuff). Now I'm told I need feet on it. It is already bordering on being too tall because the basin is on top.
I want to water proof all the bits you can't see ie back, side and underneath. I don't know much about materials but was wondering about the resin you use when fibreglassing.
I also looked at Waterproofing Wood
Any suggestions?
Maybe I should have learned how to make a cupboard LOL