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!
Hillary
Thanks for this post! I’m embarking on refinishing a recently acquired table like this that had belonged to my Great Grandmother. I was just curious, how did you remove the label? Mine has also been painted over.
Stephanie Gradler
I have a porcelain top kitchen table with wooden legs made by Muchler Brothers of Napanee, Indiana. I believe the legs are original as I have seen many with identical legs. Perhaps it’s a regional thing. And just for the record, I am
an antique dealer in Pennsylvania.
Judi Cooper
I have a Hoosier table that I made in an island, it has a red strip on the metal top that extends, how can I paint that stripe Black? I have tried to tape the curved edges but it does not work! Is there anyone I could have do it for me?
Nan
My friend had a car shop. He REpainted some metal filing cabinets with auto paint. Beautiful. There is also pin striping tape for cars which might be more flexible. Good Luck!
Jill. Cole
Hi
I have two enamel top tables that were imported into Australia along with a Hoosier cabinet and two matching Hoosier storage cupboards. They were imported from Ohio in the 1920’s and the Hoosier centre cabinet has the original import sticker. The only thing missing is the mincer.
Both tables have the original straight wooden legs.
Hoosier cabinets are rare in Australia. I love them and they are much admired.
Tabitha Peace
Hello. The table is beautiful. I have a question. I have been told by a lady who says she grew up in Ohio where she saw many enamel top tables but never one with wooden legs. And she has been an antique dealer for mant years and hasn't seen any with wooden legs that was original. She says the tables with wooden legs and without the extendable leaves have been redone. I keep finding both styles when I Google enamel top tables. So is the wood legs original or not??
Lauralee
I hope I can post a picture of my grandma’s baking table my sister has. The legs are connected to the rest of the sodden body which also has the metal tag on it. I do t see a way to post a pic sadly.
Trish Hoff
Wow it looks so good now! I’ve passed enamel tops because I didn’t know how to clean them up. Love the color it looks brand new.
Joyce Gale
I just got one of those tables out of my mother’s basement that had been there for 50 years! Thank you for the idea, I’m gonna redo it soon!!
Pam
Pam,
Thank you for the color idea! I have a table very similar and I couldn't think what to do. I want it to be the island in my French Country style kitchen. I love the color! I also want to add baskets or shelving underneath or a shelf and wheels. I'm also thinking on making it a little taller. Tomorrow I am going to Lowe's and/or Home Depot. Let me know if you have any ideas on this. I'm a few years late reading this, but it is relevant to me! Thanks, Pam