Table of Contents
Step 1: Clean the Surface. Use gentle soap and water to remove dirt and oils from the table’s existing finish. Step 2: Apply Stripper. If the table is painted or varnished, you’ll need to strip the surface. Step 3: Clean With Mineral Spirits. Step 4: Sand Table Surface. Step 5: Apply Stain. Step 6: Apply Finish.
Can I refinish just the top of a table?
Depending on the type of table top and finish you’re working with, you could get away with lightly sanding or repainting the table to give it a new look. We wanted to refinish a table top that had worn considerably over time. We successfully stripped the varnish and stain and refinished the table top over a few days.
How do you refinish a table top without stripping it?
The key to re-staining a wood dining table top without having to strip off the original factory finish is to create a soft, faux wood grain appearance with gel stain. Followed by several coats of a durable clear sealer. It’s actually not that hard to do.
Can you refinish a wood table?
Actually, no—designers and woodworkers aren’t the only ones who can refinish a table. You can give your trusty-but-a-little-beat-up flea market find a whole new lease on life in just a few steps, regardless of whether or not you’ve ever wielded sandpaper.
How much does it cost to refinish a table top?
Cost to Refinish a Table. A basic table will range between $200 and $600 to refinish. The process is typically the same regardless of condition, and price changes only based on size. For any wooden table, the process involves stripping the old finish and applying a new final coat.
How do you hand sand a table top?
Begin sanding the entire wood surface with coarse-grit sandpaper (80 grit), then progress to medium-grit sandpaper (150 grit), and then to a fine-grit sandpaper (220 grit) before you stain. When sanding, sand the entire table with each grit before moving on to the next grit.
Is it better to sand or strip furniture?
Stripping is Faster and Often Safer. Stripping a finish is faster than sanding to remove it. But more importantly, sanding cuts through stain and patina (the color changes in wood caused by light and oxidation), and it does so unevenly. Jan 3, 2018.
Can you Restain a table without sanding?
You absolutely do not need to sand the finish off the table, just lightly sand enough to rough up the existing finish to give the Polyshades something to grip.
How do you restore old wood furniture without stripping?
How to restore wood furniture without sanding and stripping Remove any hardware. Wipe on mineral spirits. Clean the surface. Fix the white rings. Fill small cracks and imperfections. Try to fix the dents. Restore the colour with gel stain. Renew the lustre with a wipe-on finish.
What kind of paint do you use on a dining table?
When it’s time to paint, make sure to select a high-quality water-based enamel paint, which will give you a hard finish that’s similar to an oil paint. Kitchen tables take a beating, and you’ll need a paint that can withstand plates, cups and all sorts of other objects banging it every single day.
How do you strip and refinish a table?
How to Strip & Refinish Wood Furniture Step 1: Choose a Work Area. Work in a well-ventilated area such as your open garage or on an outdoor deck or patio. Step 2: Strip Away Old Finish. Step 3: Sand It. Step 4: Apply Sanding Sealer. Step 5: Stain It. Step 6: Apply Sealant.
How do you refinish a table that is not real wood?
You can sand, prime and paint laminate as if it were a solid wood piece of furniture! It’s easy to skip the sanding step, because sanding is a drag… but it’s especially important with laminate. Because it’s often somewhat glossy-looking, and important to sand it down until the finish is very dull before priming.
Is it worth it to refinish furniture?
Trying to refinish centuries-old furniture, without using a professional, can damage the furniture and lessen its value. The only exception to this rule is if the item has more personal value to you than what it is worth. However, wood furniture made between 1850 and 1960 are actually ideal candidates for refinishing.
Is it hard to refinish furniture?
When refinishing furniture, you must do the most unpleasant part of the job first. Removing the old finish can be a cumbersome and messy task. For a while early in the process, until you start getting down to the wood underneath the mess, you may feel that you have completely ruined the piece. Have patience.
How do I fix varnish on my table?
How to Repair Table Top Varnish With Heat Damage Cover the Area With a Cloth. Run a Steam Iron Over the Area. Look for Evidence of Damage. Polish the Tabletop. Buff With Steel Wool and Linseed Oil. Go Over the Area With a Damp Cloth. Apply Furniture Paste Wax and Buff the Area. Create a Paste Made of Oil and Ashes.
Can you use an orbital sander on a table top?
Use an orbital sander to sand down the table top. Sand with the grain of the wood, not against it. With the 80 grit sand paper, my goal is to get all of the old stain off. But, be careful not to sand one place too heavily as it can cause a dip in your surface.
How do you know when wood is sanded enough?
The best way to know when you’re done sanding is to scribble a light pencil line across your wood before you start. Once the line is gone, move up to the next grit. Repeat up to the highest grit sandpaper, then wet your wood with mineral spirits to confirm there are no remaining marks.
What can I use instead of sandpaper on wood?
Sand and a piece of leather or cloth, Pumice (a porous vulcanic Rock), Walnut Shells, Rottenstone (similar to Pumice), Wood Shavings, Corn Cobs, a Wood File, Scraping, Burnishing, or even building a primitive sanding tool are good alternatives to sandpaper.
