or A Woman's Tool Chest is Different Than a Man's...
or Putting Off the Old Self
Some of you who get my posts via email may remember this $5 desk...a garage sale find from a few weeks ago.
My new desk is a good brand - Sligh Furniture. The drawers are constructed with wood and dove-tailed corners.
It may be a 1970s piece - the gold paint was a tip-off.
The desk also has "Gustavian" lines...Loi Thai from Tone on Tone said he saw them...that's good enough for me. :)
The leather-look inlaid top was graced with a little something extra; it was the first thing to go.
Tools used: fingernails.
My next task was to see if I could clean the nasty top - knowing I could paint it with either chalk paint or homemade plaster paint if my efforts were unsuccessful.
Tool Used: a "Mr. Clean Magic Eraser"-type cleaning pad. (Tip: I get two for a dollar at Dollar Tree.)
Before:
Results:
It takes very little elbow grease to get a ton of grunge off a variety of surfaces. I will try to use the spot above as a reference point.
Notice, there are still some small pink stains and gray stains.
My deductive skills led me to believe the hot pink stains might be nail polish. So, I gathered an appropriate weapon.
Tools Used: Nail Polish Remover and a Cotton Ball.
Before:
Results:
Success! Only the small gray stains were left.
Knowing all along that if any of my experimental cleaning attempts were to "ruin" the finish of the top, I could paint, I attempted another product: scouring powder.
Results: The gray stains didn't budge, but the finish held up to the abrasive powder...so not exactly a fail.
Deduction: Since the material on the top might really be completely indestructible, I decided to try one more feminine tool on the small gray stains.
Deduction: If it is a small spot, I don't need a big piece of sandpaper.
Results:
Eureka! It worked! No evidence of sanding was visible to my naked eyes.
RECAP
Before:
I started wondering how a man might have approached this project...and since I'm a woman, I couldn't tell you. It may have involved power tools and new wood or something...
Methinks I had a decided advantage on this one!
Word for the Day:
Ephesians 4:21-24
...assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
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Sunday
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Sundays at Home
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Monday
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Mod Mix Monday
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The
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Saturday
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Party Junk
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20 comments:
You are a genius! And methinks a man would've ruined the top. I can't wait to see how you paint over the gold bits. The desk is going to be so pretty!
xo,
RJ
Good grief! Your five dollar desk had me jumping up and down already, but I am very excited to see it when you get it painted. Lady tools are the best, aren't they? An emery board is my best friend for little areas, and I don't know how we ever lived without magic erasers. Hurry and paint it!
A woman definitely thinks differently than a man. If it had been my hubby he would have suggested the trash. lol! What awesome results Revi. I do love Magic Eraser.
hugs,
Jann
Great job cleaning the top!
Methinks you did a wonderful deductive job of figuring out just what the job needed---no more--no less. It looks great! xo Diana
Love the process you went through to get the top clean! Can't wait to see the finished desk!
Revi ... end results tell me that you are one smart lady and tackled the problems with whatever was necessary without getting out the power tools. Looks great and anxious to see how you finish it.
Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures
Whoa Girl! You are sooooo clever! You picked the desk up for a few bucks and with some trial and (no) error, you have it looking great!
I can't wait to see how it looks after some beauty treatments.
You did a great job on that clean-up...I would never have thought of nail polish remover...
I can't believe you restored that desk top to a flawless finish!
Love it! Girls definitely have a little advantage :) Looks like a great piece.
that is amazing, revi! it looks wonderful now:) my husband would have gotten his palm sander and went to town!
I love how you used all of those techniques, tools (and nail polish remover, haha.) I have to say that I am pretty impulsive when it comes to projects like this and, sadly, I have done some damage before. But you were successful here, and I can't wait to see the finished product!
Wow, great job, Revi! Good thinking on your cleaning ideas. Cannot wait to see it painted!
Wow, you really cleaned the top up nicely with all of your perseverance!
Thanks for the visit, Revi.
Mary Alice
Lots of work but certainly worth it. Can't wait to see the finished project! Blessings, Cindy
wow! that's great! I love the magic eraser
You did a great job cleaning that desk top! I'm not sure I would've had the patience to do all of that. I probably would've looked into alternative options.
A fair damsel has de-distressed a desk using only a sponge, ye olde polish remover, and a curious flat stick called "emery"! Great job. I have never used an emery board on a piece of furniture.
Like how you salvaged the top - winning one battle at a time!
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