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Good Questions: How do I refinish Bertoia Chairs?

12-18-bertoia.jpgHello AT, I have two Bertoia chairs that are rusted wrecks (got em at a yard sale). Any ideas where I could get them refinished (that probably means sandlbalsting them and then spraying them with the original white epoxy finish). Thanks - Peter


Dear Peter—
We're uncertain of where/how to do this but we're sure someone must know. Anyone? —aaron

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Comments (12)

Almost any place that does powder coating work can also do an epoxy (or polyester or polyurethane or a hybrid finish) coating. Search for powder coating in your local area and ask about their capabilities. They also should be able to strip it for you. The black epoxy looks very similar to a black powder coated finish but it's more "plastic" to the touch.

posted by Juli on 2006-12-18 11:47:28

Not all furniture holds up to sandblasting, try your local Yellow Pages for 'metal stripping', for someone who specializes in dip stripping (a technique where the item is soaked in the solution and it removes both paint and rust). Repainting is usually another business entirely (but they can refer you to someone locally).

I used dip stripping on the heater registers, after trying to strip them myself and becoming sick from the so-called-non-toxic stripper, and since then I've taken at least a dozen things in for stripping & refinishing and been thrilled with the results.

posted by Rucy on 2006-12-18 10:20:57

Try calling some people who make headstones (or 'monuments'), they can usually sandblast and repaint matal furniture. I had a table and 6 chairs done for about $350 this summer.
Good luck!

posted by Cait on 2006-12-18 10:14:34

Not all furniture holds up to sandblasting, try your local Yellow Pages for 'metal stripping', for someone who specializes in dip stripping (a technique where the item is soaked in the solution and it removes both paint and rust). Repainting is usually another business entirely (but they can refer you to someone locally).

I used dip stripping on the heater registers, after trying to strip them myself and becoming sick from the so-called-non-toxic stripper, and since then I've taken at least a dozen things in for stripping & refinishing and been thrilled with the results. On the West Coast so, sorry, no refs for you for your area.

posted by Rucy on 2006-12-18 10:21:35

Call this guy and ask if he can do them, or knows where to take them - www.jbrestorationinc.com . Pricey, but one of the best.

posted by Justin on 2006-12-18 10:26:32

I know a lot of folks who've had great luck with auto body shops for repainting bicycles (okay, okay, two is not a lot).

Still. Try an autobody shop that does painting.

posted by amanda on 2006-12-18 10:57:21

I've heard that auto body places are great sources for that. They are used to dealing with rust on cars and can spray a wide variety of colors on your metal furniture. A friend did metal filing cabinets in light metallic green, very nice.

posted by pelicolina on 2006-12-18 10:59:08

Hijacking for a similar question - I have a an old metal cabinet that I stripped, but it needs to be polished. Would an auto-body shop be good for this? Any other suggestions?

posted by beatrice on 2006-12-18 11:30:05

I agree with the dip stripping. HOWEVER, as you know, the original finish was NOT paint, but a plastic (epoxy) coating. Not sure where to get something like that. I would think a paint finish would wind up looking way different.

posted by Dave on 2006-12-18 11:35:13

I just had all my steel kitchen cabinets powdercoated by an autobody shop. They look great. But the autobody guy made me promise not to tell anyone who did it...it was too much work. He prefers cars.

posted by loli on 2006-12-18 14:22:05

No question, juli nailed it, powder coating. Any good PC shop will have the necessary heat/sand/etc for removing the old surface. They generally work in batches of a single color so the price for one chair may look steep but 6 may be a bargain. Ask to see a sample of a completed piece with coating material you select to be sure it has the texture/gloss you are looking for don't just select it from a chip in a brochure.

posted by JC on 2006-12-18 14:31:13

Professional chemical stripping is the way to go...and the only way to get all the coating off. I'd recommend powder coating if you have the heavy epoxy finish and want to keep that look, but keep in mind that the chairs were also available with an enamel finish as well as chrome. My favorite finish was the two-tone enamel...the seat in white, the base in black.

posted by John on 2006-12-19 09:20:05

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