How to Restore the Finish on an Antique Wood Tabletop

Antique wood tables can be valuable, even in a worn condition after many years of use. You can restore the finish on an antique wood tabletop without removing the many years of character it has acquired. Restoring an antique tabletop will protect the integrity of the antique while preparing it for future use. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Work in a space that is well-ventilated. Lay down a plastic drop cloth. Wear safety glasses and rubber gloves while working on this project.

2

Apply mineral spirits or paint thinner to the tabletop with a soft rag. Always move in the direction of the wood grain. This will help to remove dust, dirt and other residue on the top of the table. If there are traces of paint on the antique wood tabletop, use a piece of steel wool that has been soaked with mineral spirits to remove them. Gently rub the steel wool over problem areas.

3

Remove the mineral spirits with denatured alcohol. The mineral spirits will leave behind a residue. Apply a small amount of denatured alcohol to a clean rag and rub the rag on the top of the antique table in the direction of the wood grain.

4

Use a wood stain pen to fill in any small areas of the table that are scratched. If there are many scratches, apply a small amount of wood stain with a paintbrush to the entire surface of the antique tabletop. Remove the excess stain with a clean rag. Allow the stain to dry for 24 hours or according to the manufacturer's directions.

5

Wipe the table with a tack cloth to remove any dust.

6

Apply a thin coat of polyurethane with a paintbrush to the top of the table. Allow to dry for about two hours.

7

Once the polyurethane has dried, lightly sand the tabletop with 220-grit sandpaper. This will remove excess roughness or bumps. Wipe the table down with a tack cloth and apply a second coat of polyurethane to the tabletop. Allow the polyurethane to dry thoroughly.