Antique School Desk Makeover
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Deciding whether or not to purchase this antique school desk was difficult, but working on it was more work than I bargained for!
Antique School Desk
When I posted THIS PICTURE on the Facebook page, I got 75 comments about whether or not I should buy it. The price was right, but it was in such BAD shape!
Wooden School Desk
This is after I brought it home, got ready to disassemble it, and began working on it. I may not have purchased it if I had any idea how much elbow grease it would need.
This poor antique desk had been left out in the elements and needed a lot of work. Do you think the wood is oak?
Because I don’t work much with metals, I had no idea what I was in for.
How To Deal With Rusty Metal
I started attacking the metal frame of the school desk with a wire brush; that was pretty much pointless. I quickly realized this: “Someone had painted over existing rust.” I borrowed a wire wheel from Rodney and made a dent in the rust and paint, but I would need to remove the paint to get to the rust.
I bought this Krud Kutter Rust Remover on Amazon and applied it with a cheap chip brush. It worked on some of the areas, but the paint still needed to go so I could get access to the rust.
I used some aerosol Citristrip to remove the top layer of paint. This is where I almost gave up. Had I realized there was so much rust UNDER the paint, it would have allowed me to work in the proper steps and get to the root of the problem more quickly.
Spray Paint Primer
After stripping the paint, treating the rust with the amazing Krud Kutter, using the wire wheel, and even some sandpaper, I was ready for spray paint primer.
How To: Dry Brush Technique
I mixed up some DIY chalky paint primer with some plaster of paris in my oops paint. Since I didn’t want to try to “restore” this wood to a new condition, I wanted to preserve its used and abused nature to show how rough its life had been.
A dry brush technique on the wood seemed a great option.
I used some Heirloom Traditions clear wax on the wooden pieces (and the metal pieces after they were painted)
After using the black primer on the metal portions of the antique school desk, I’m ready to give it some color.
I mixed chalky paint primer in my Homeright Finish Max to paint the metal blue.
After allowing the blue paint to cure on the metal and fighting to get all of the wooden pieces back on the frame, the boards seemed a little loose, so I used some Gorilla Wood Glue on this handy Rockler Silicone Glue Brush to apply glue in between the boards. I clamped the sections and let them set up overnight.
NOTE: I’d love to give you tips on taking apart a school desk and putting it back together, but for me, it was “try this” and then “try that.” I originally read this post at Coffee Under The Umbrella, but my desk was slightly different.
My best advice is to BE patient and keep all the wooden components together so you know which is the seat, back, and desktop.
Navy Blue Antique School Desk
I LOVE the navy blue on the frame of this antique school desk, don’t you? The diy chalky paint primer sealed with clear wax looks gorgeous! It even has that little storage area!
Related Content: Navy Blue Furniture Projects
You may not be a fan of the painting technique on the wood components, but I love how it keeps the integrity and charm of the original pieces.
I didn’t capture a picture of the desktop, but you can still see the initials carved into the wood. Making sure you could still see that was important to me. I know… I’m such a sentimental sap!
It is currently for sale in my booth at Vendors’ Village. Would the vendor who sold it in their booth recognize it? Click the link to see the rotted tree trunk succulent planter.
What project has challenged you and almost made you regret that you ever brought it home? Did it involve RUST?
gail
I have three that have been sitting in my garage waiting to be transformed.
You have inspired me!
Beautiful job🤗
Thank you
Jen
Jen,
It was a lot of work, but I was so pleased with the outcome! Good luck working on your antique school desks!
gail
Hi there, you’ve done a marvelous job on this desk! I have a friend who has just the cast iron ends and we can’t work out how the timber attaches to the wavy castings. Would you be able to shed some light on this please?
Ian,
The best I can recall is the pieces sort of slide in and lock in place. There seemed to only be a few places to actually secure the pieces with screws. I wish I could be of more help!
gail
I love how your project turned out! I recently purchased an antique desk like yours, but I can’t get the seat to fold up. Is there some secret button I’m missing?!
Thank you Jennifer!
If you look closely at the picture where I’m showing the spray paint, you will see that the seat is actually hinged on this antique school desk. Perhaps all of them are not?
So, check your construction and see if that brace that holds the seat actually moves, or is it stationary?
gail
Hi there! It turned out great! i’m currently working on a similar project and i’m wondering if you could explain more about how you refinished the wood part? did you sand and prime? or stain or just paint it with black? any advice would be appreciated!
Rachel,
I’m sure I probably lightly sanded the wood. But mostly did the dry brushing with the blue paint and added a little wax to seal it. The wood was really dried out and weathered.
I hope that helps!
Awesome !!! Nice job….
It looks great! Can I ask, did you do a black dry brush on top of the existing wood color? Is that all you did as far as color on the wood? I’ve got a similar project waiting for me in my home, and I’ve never done a dry brush with anything other than white so far, so I’m a little wary about trying black. I haven’t been able to find any pictures of black dry brushing online either, so you can understand my hesitation! But after seeing this post, it looks really nice and I might try!
Hannah,
I used the same blue as I used on the base. I use the cheap chip brushes and only dip the very tips into the paint and hold the brush straight up to apply the paint. The wood looks different because I applied wax over the paint (and wood showing through).
I hope that helps!
gail
I Love how it came out – navy isn’t a color I would have thought of for this, but I love the color after all!!! I can see how it was a REAL armbreaker, too – your patience and hard work paid off, Gail!!!
I almost lost my patience with that paint over rust! I’ll be sure to be more careful next time, or at least know what I’m in for!
I love that navy color–I’ve used it on several other pieces.
gail
Wow! That turned out incredible! I have always wanted a piece like this! But never found one that was in the right condition to restore, or it was way over priced. Love the dry brush on the wood! OK now I’m on the “hunt” to find one to do! May I ask what you gave for it? I just want to know what a reasonable price would be in the condition you found it. Thank you for re-inspiring me!
Dawn,
Great question, I should have mentioned it in the blog post. I only paid $10 for this desk. I have seen several others at the same place for over $40. I couldn’t get it on my cart quick enough. It’s one of the perks of going often…. new stuff is brought in daily.
good luck with your hunt. Might I suggest putting your request on your facebook page so family and friends know what you’re looking for?
gail
I found one for $5.. I was so happy
Wow! That’s an awesome find Darlene! congrats!
gail
You did a wonderful job! Live it!
It looks like it was more work than most people would have tackled but I love how it turned out! Great idea to work with the weathered wood rather than stain/paint, it adds to the antique appeal.
Looks great!
It turned out beautiful Gail! I totally agree on so many pieces… if I knew how much work it’d end up being, I probably should have passed, but it’s all about the love and vision I guess.
I have an old school desk nearly identical to this one that was the 1st antique piece we bought as a married couple 36 years ago… my husband bought it for me for a surprise… it too had initials carved in the top, so we added ours: MM + LW awe… 😉
ohhh, that is sooo sweet! I’m so sentimental. 🙂
thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment.
gail
Well all your hard work paid off Gail, it is sooo pretty! I probably would have given up on the metal part! I LOVE the dry brush technique over the wood, it really looks fabulous!
you did a wonderful job! love the way it looks and the choices you made on the metal & wood finishes!
It turned out great, Gail! It’s a very lovely piece and was worth the effort.
So far the project that has frustrated…er…challenged me most is this doggone drop leaf table. It was my great grandmother’s and I think the paint on it is 50 years old or so and I cannot get it off!
Oh my Shawna! That does sound very frustrating. I’m sure you’re aware that it is probably lead based paint, so be careful! I would probably put on a respirator and a hazmat suit and start sanding. The good news is, it’s a family piece, well worth your time and effort to restore it. right? 🙂
gail
what a difference! it looks so good and brand new except for looking like an antique, too. 😉