The way to Revarnish a Table
Your scratched, scuffed, stained or dull wood table needs some shine — but you can not just slap a fresh coat of varnish on it if you would like to preserve the beauty of the timber. The job is a lot more complicated and labor-intensive compared to a paintbrush and a can of clear end. To do it right, you have to strip that table down to the bare wood and start over. Your reward is a shiny new table that should hold up for several years with basic cleaning and attention.
Set the table to a dropcloth in a well-ventilated area, and wear protective gloves. Paint wood stripper all over the table, following manufacturer’s instructions for timing the process. After about 20 minutes or so, remove the softened finish and old stain with a plastic scraper. If you use a putty knife, then take care not to scratch or gouge the wood. Repeat this step if there’s still residue on the table after removing all of the finish.
Wipe the table in the direction of the grain with a clean rag, soaked in stripper. This increases any remaining end and stain from cracks, scrapes along with also the wood grain. Go above the table one more time with extra-fine steel wool dipped in stripper.
Sand the table gently with the grain, using very fine sandpaper. Wipe off any dust with a clean cloth.
Apply a coat of stain, then wipe it with a clean rag or a piece of cheesecloth to remove excess stain and maintain the table from turning too dark. Reapply stain whether the wood is not dark enough. When you’re pleased with the color, let the table thoroughly.
Brush on the protective coat of masonry — or non-yellowing polyurethane — and also allow the table to dry thoroughly in a dust-free location.
