I have come across the chipping paint issue before. I find a piece and it is lovely but the original paint job is chipping off everywhere or really goopy and in awful condition – yikes! Â This is no fun to deal with and honestly, I pass up on many of these pieces because of the work entailed.
This was the case with the Corinth Blue Dresser.  I sanded down the goopy paint and in those areas, used the layers of previous paint colors to create an interesting and pretty look. I used General Finishes milk paint in Corinth Blue on that piece and it was a lot of fun to play with.
Presently, I am working on Lily’s Armoire. The whole piece is covered in chipping paint. Â Chipping paint is fine but honestly, I like controlled chipping paint and this piece is seriously not controlled! It is flaking off everywhere. Â
I took my orbital sander today and went over the areas (door, drawers, etc.) that were the worse for wear. I then used my Elmer’s Wood Putty and applied it over the bumps. I let that dry and went over it one more time with the sander.
I will add that with very old pieces, one needs to be careful with the old paint. It could be lead based and dangerous when inhaled. Â I use a mask when I sand my pieces and I do it outside in my (super duper hot) garage.
It is now smooth to the touch. Â After one coat of Annie Sloan chalk paint, this is where it stands. Â The paint looks very uneven.
I will sand it again over the weekend and apply another coat. This technique may need to be done a few more times for a good finish. Another option? Play with it. I may add a lighter coat of gray on top and sand it back and see what happens. I’ll keep you posted!