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