If you missed installment number one of Mr. Chippy you can read about me rescuing my mother's vintage enamel topped table. He wasn't being held hostage or anything, he had just been a little mistreated and neglected.
He now resides happily at my house.
This is what he started as
and what he looks like now.
I solved the excessive chippiness and rust problem by unscrewing the enamel top and turning it around 180 degrees.
I know that doesn't really solve the problem, but it is a heck of a lot less noticeable now, since I can put the bad spot against a wall.
Using soap and water and spray cleaners really didn't even TOUCH the embedded black stuff on the top, so I brought out my trusty Bar Keepers Friend and it got the majority of the 100 years of dirt off of it.
If you've never used it, Bar Keepers Friend is like Comet Cleanser except not gritty and it doesn't scratch. I originally bought it to keep my fancy cookware looking shiny, but I am finding more and more places to use it.
This is one of my favorite kitchen towels, although I never actually use it for dishes. Don't we all have just-for-look towels?
It's not just me is it?
One of my favorite mixing bowls with my vintage egg beater.
You didn't think I was actually mixing something up in here, did you? Nope, just for looks.
I cleaned the paint off the original handle with a wire brush on my husband's bench grinder. It's that machine with all the stiff twirling metal wires that looks like it could take your fingers off if you slipped.
And the paint sort of fell off the label while I was taking it off the table. Sort of like. magic. Then I just polished it up with the Bar Keepers Friend.
The color used was Benjamin Moore's Azores, but mixed at Home Depot in their semi-gloss Behr paint. I have nothing against Benjamin Moore paint, I just happened to be at Home Depot that day.
Some of my photos make it look a little like 1980's country blue, but it is actually a turquoise/blue/green/gray color.
One more look at Mr. Chippy's before and after.
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Edited March 2024 - I've recently rescued another porcelain enamel kitchen table and combined it with an iconic vintage piece - you can see that transformation HERE. Sometimes when both pieces are heavily damaged it's OK to put them together and make something new!
June
Thank u for clarifying cleaning the enamel..I just refinished a table identical to yours and need to embark on the top now.
Lynn
Next time you want to take paint off old metal just boil it in white vinegar. It will fall right off. A lot less work and destruction of the old metal.
Gayle Chestnut
You have a Sno White table. Sno White tables were produced between around 1900 - 1908. It is actually worth more before refinishing it, even though I love the new look. I also have a Sno White table, found along the side of the road! I have debated about painting ours. The enamel on ours is in very good condition, the paint just a little flaky.
last minute lynn
What a brilliant idea to turn the top around. The table looks terrific!
Gayle Chestnut
You have a Sno White table. Sno White tables were produced between around 1900 - 1908. It is actually worth more before refinishing it, even though I love the new look. I also have a Sno White table, found along the side of the road! I have debated about painting ours. The enamel on ours is in very good condition, the paint just a little flaky.
[email protected]
We had this table when I was a child (I'm 68 now) and when my mother passed away I moved this table to my new place. It had been in the basement for years. When I was having repairs done on my home the workers used it to set things on under the carport but decided to "protect" it they put a rubber backed rug on top of it. After all was said and done it got wet and dried over and over. Now there is the backing stuck to the top of it and I can't get it off. I was going to take it to car painting shop to have them fill a large chipped area (about 3") and then sand and spray it. Need to refinish but I don't know if that is the place to have it done. Any recommendations for a better place?
Pam Kessler
You know, I think that would be a good place to get it done. I've never used a car shop before, but I know a lot of people swear by them for repainting the vintage patio furniture. Certainly worth asking their opinion. Too bad about the the rug getting stuck to it 🙁
Nan
Goo Gone? Commercial *Orange stuff* usually melts off adhesive but test an area first!!
Stacey Gibbon
Very pretty! You did good job on it!
Anonymous
I use one of these as sort of a desk and have been staring at it for years wondering how to restore it. You gave me some GREAT ideas. Thanks!
Ron
Sounds like you didn't do shit. My god, you made a whole post about nothing more than turning the top around?! I threw up on my parents couch when I was 17 after drinking too much while they were out of town. I flipped the cushion over and nobody ever knew the difference. Should I write a whole fucking post about it and make sure there's 14 ads that pop up relentlessly on the site while people read about it? No? Well then neither should you.
Meagan B.
HOLY COW!! I just restored this SAME table...it must be the great minds theory because your table looks amazing!
Judy
I just bought a table and the top was very bad, so I googled how to clean enamel and found your blog. Thank you so much, now my table top looks 100% better.
Maureen Alger
So excited to see this table. When we bought our first house in 1979 the old owners left a table just like this behind. I used it in the basement for laundry. When we built a new house 3 years ago I insisted on bringing with me. (Boy am I glad!)My son who thought I was nuts to bring it with me just told me for my Christmas gift he was going to restore it for me!Can't wait to see how it turns out!!
Sandy
Love the transformation! The towel is perfect for show on your table! I have 2 of these tables. One sits in my garden shed (it's in great condition) and I just bought another one that someone made a little fancier and plan to make it into a potting shed this summer. I really like your blog and am now followingn along. I've always loved my aunt and my mom's vintage things while growing up and am now slowiing collecting. I've always loved a good garage sale.
Anonymous
I own a resale shop and came across your post. I have two enameled top tables and appreciate your sharing your success on refinishing. The table looks great! I'm off to see if I can get my two tables to look as good as yours.
awal.ny
Mr. Chippy looks so much nicer with his new coat on. We use bar keepers friend to clean our vintage farm sink and it works wonders. Have a wonderful weekend.
Courtney ~ French Country Cottage
Hi there~ This piece is so charming- I love it. Love the color , love the top- it is such a little sweetie! Thanks for sharing this at Feathered Nest Friday! 🙂
Robin
Pam I was in love with your table from part one and perfectly happpy to admire it in it's dirty grubby state. BUT NOW - - I'm over. the. moon. in. LOVE. With. It! It's just so fabulous I have goosebumps. Very smart of you to turn the top around to use the good side - smart, smart, smart (I feel smarter just by stopping by, you see I think it's rubbing off on me a bit LOL)
The color for the legs is perfect too of course. I just love it. Now if only you could clone it and then sell me one - now that would be the perfect situation. Sorry for the long post, and I promise not to stalk your table anymore but I just had to attemp to let you know how fabulous I thought your it is. Have a great night Pam!
michelle
Pam that is beautiful! You did an amazing job cleaning it up and giving it new life! I love the color!