Best tools and materials to tidy up and re-paint outdoor furniture?

[d000hg]

I've some nice wooden garden furniture I acquired with the house but it needs some TLC - the paint is flaking off and in a couple of spots rot has got in.

Am I best to sand this to remove loose stuff, or scrape it? If the latter is a heated scraper tool recommended, or a hot air gun plus cheap scraper? Are chemicals useful?
Also - the table has narrow slots in the top. How on earth do I get in to scrape them, or do I just not really bother?

As for localised rot spots, will cleaning and repainting to keep the wood dry stop this getting worse, or just lock the rot inside to continue spreading?

 

[Tigercubrider]

Pictures?

 

[d000hg]

 

[opps]

I can't see any evidence of rotten wood. Does any of it feel spongy?

It does look like someone has varnished the wood- teak oil/etc might have been better.

The hard to reach areas- well, they are hard to reach. if you can't get to them, protect the wood above and below.

 

[d000hg]

As I mentioned it's very isolated... The feet and I think one join I couldn't find in my brief look today.

I don't want to strip it right back to oil it, I think painting it is my preferred option anyway. How best to get a good surface?

 

[opps]

As I mentioned it's very isolated... The feet and I think one join I couldn't find in my brief look today.

I don't want to strip it right back to oil it, I think painting it is my preferred option anyway. How best to get a good surface?

You can paint it, two years later you can paint it again-rinse and repeat.

Oiled wood will degrade over time but much less than painted wood.

 

[Nige F]

. But as opps says, paint and re do. Prepare by sanding and washing. Maybe Sadolin Superdec would be a good finish.

 

[d000hg]

About the narrow gaps between slats especially on the table - just make sure loose stuff and dirt is off using a bit of paper by hand?

 

[Tigercubrider]

make a sander by shaping a piece of wood into something like a butter pat and fitting sandpaper to it - it should fit between the slats
I'd use an orbital sander on the rest - avoid rounding over the square edges.

 

[opps]

make a sander by shaping a piece of wood into something like a butter pat and fitting sandpaper to it - it should fit between the slats
I'd use an orbital sander on the rest - avoid rounding over the square edges.

Good call. Gluing aluminium oxide paper to off cuts of thin MDF works pretty well.