How To Refinish A Table Top

How to refinish a table top

Depending on the table top and finish you're working with, you could get away with lightly sanding or repainting it to give it a new look. To refinish a table top considerably worn by time, you likely need to strip the clear varnish top coat since varnish tends to get yellowed or irreparably cloudy.

Can you sand down a table and refinish it?

Starting with the roughest sandpaper (60-grit), sand in the direction of the grain. You can sand by hand, but a mechanical sander makes the job go, ahem, much smoother. Finish by wiping down the table with a tack cloth so it's free of dust, then sand the surface again, this time with your 120-grit, to polish the wood.

How do you refinish a table top without stripping it?

Use a sanding sponge block to *lightly* sand the entire table. 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. No need to break a sweat for this step.

How do you rejuvenate a wooden table top?

Cut half a lemon and rub the cut side into the grain, the acid will naturally bleach out any residue stains. Leave it for a few minutes before cleaning, wiping and then drying with a cloth. Finish by making a homemade natural mix, 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts olive oil, whisk and rub into the grain.

Is it better to paint or stain a table top?

Furniture pieces with mild to moderate flaws that you can sand out are great to stain—the right stain can cover the imperfections and make the item look new again. For furniture with severe flaws that you cannot easily fix by sanding, paint will better cover these issues and make the piece look new again.

Do you have to sand a table before staining?

Sand Thoroughly The best way to stain wood is to prepare the wood surface by sanding it with a sanding block or orbital sander. Sandpaper with a lower grit number will make wood rougher, allowing more stain to absorb and creating a darker color. Start with 120-grit sandpaper on refinished pieces.

Should I strip or sand my table?

It's almost always better to strip than to sand. To begin with, except in cases where the old finish is flaking off, it's a lot more work to sand than to strip using a paint-and-varnish remover.

What is the fastest way to refinish a table?

Clean the Surface. Use gentle soap and water to remove dirt and oils from the table's existing finish.
Apply Stripper. If the table is painted or varnished, you'll need to strip the surface. ...
Clean With Mineral Spirits. ...
Sand Table Surface. ...
Apply Stain. ...
Apply Finish.

How long does it take to sand and refinish a table?

All in all it probably took us 2 to 3 hours to sand both tables, especially because of all of the legs and aprons we had to get too. But I was happy to have discovered the new heavier-duty sander and even MORE happy about the results.

Do you have to remove old stain before restaining table?

You don't need to remove all of the old stain to apply darker stain. But you do need to remove all of the lacquer, varnish or anything that will prevent new stain from absorbing into the wood. It's easy to see the shiny edges of old lacquer, or the scratched surface of old lacquer.

Do you have to sand a table to repaint it?

If you want the new finish to look great and last for years, you'll need to prep it before breaking out the paintbrush. Before painting wooden furniture, you need to remove the paint and finish already coating it and sand it down to make it ready for a new coat.

Can you Restain finished wood without sanding?

Chalk paint is the best way to paint practically anything without sanding. It offers a gorgeous matte finish and no need to prepare the surface. Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint was the cornerstone of the painted furniture industry as we know it.

How do you bring dull wood back to life?

Give it a light sanding just discuss the surface. Then use a damp cloth to remove all the dust. Once

How do you restore an old table for beginners?

Supplies You'll Need.
How to Restore a Wooden Table, Step by Step. ...
Step One: Analyze the Table (and Be Honest About Your Skill Level) ...
Step Two: Give the Wooden Table a Thorough Cleaning. ...
Step Three: Start the Stripping Process. ...
Step Four: Apply Your Finish of Choice. ...
Step Five: Add a Protective Clear Coat.

Is olive oil good for restoring wood?

You'll leave behind clean, beautifully gleaming wood. Olive oil, as you already know, is a great conditioner. When you apply it to wood, it soaks in, swelling the wood fibers and deepening their color.

Is it better to use a cloth or brush to stain wood?

The best way to apply stain is with a lint free rag and wiping it into the grain of the wood. Using a lint free rag is the best way to apply wood stain because it is great for controlling the amount of stain that is applied and for removing any excess stain.

How do I get a smooth finish when painting a table top?

Instructions

Sand your furniture piece smooth.
Vacuum all the dust from the furniture piece. ...
Wipe off any remaining dust with a tack cloth.
Fill your paint sprayer with paint. ...
Spray the first coat on your furniture. ...
After the first coat is dry, lightly sand the entire surface with an ultra fine grit sanding block.

What lasts longer solid stain or paint?

Although solid stain has its benefits, paint offers better protection, durability, and a wider range of colour selection. Solid stain fades faster than paint, meaning that you will need to repaint it sooner.

What happens if you don't sand wood before staining?

You need a smooth surface with no blemishes because stain will highlight scratches and dings in the wood. Always sand down to clean wood (if you have enough meat left of the wood) before applying any stain.

What happens if you stain without sanding?

Yes, you can stain wood pretty well without sanding by cleaning the wood properly and applying Gel stain. Gel stain can be applied over finished wood without sanding. Gel stain darkens the stain wood color or remains the same color. But for bare wood, a light sanding is essential before staining.