Do it Yourself Refinishing of Wooden Tables

Breathe new life into your old wooden table with a little TLC. Investing some time and elbow grease goes a long way when it comes to brightening up your tired looking table, not to mention the fact that you can save a lot of cash. So whether youre looking to restore the richness of your wooden table's wood by staining or want to add a new hue with a little paint, refinishing is one project you can easily tackle. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1




Staining brings out the beauty of the wood's grain

Place a drop cloth under the table. Strip the existing finish from the table. If it's stained, sand the wood using 60 or 80 grit sandpaper, then 150 grit sandpaper. Brush away the dust with a bench brush and wipe with a tack cloth. If the table has been painted, use stripping compound, following the manufacturers instructions. Once the paint is removed, sand with a sanding sponge.

2




Painted tables add flair to any room

Push any nails below the surface using an awl and hammer. Apply wood putty with your finger or a putty knife.

3

Apply a sanding sealer if youre staining your wooden table. Mix well and minimize brush strokes as much as possible. Start with smaller areas first and avoid overlapping strokes. Allow to dry according to label instructions, then lightly sand with a fine grit (220 or 240) sandpaper and brush away all dust with the bench brush. Wipe with a tack cloth and apply a second coat. Let dry.

4

Apply stain with a foam brush, if youre staining the wood. Wipe off the stain after 5 to 15 minutes (check your products label) with a clean, lint-free staining cloth. Let dry according to product instructions. If painting, use a brush recommended on the product label to apply a thin coat of paint. Let dry.

5

Apply the second coat of stain or paint, following step 3 and 4. Let dry.

6

Seal the stain or paint with two coats of poly-acrylic finish, letting the poly-acrylic dry in between coats.