Refurbishing a Table

Give an old table a new look.

Refurbishing a table is an effective way of reusing quality furniture that is worn or outdated. True wood furniture isn’t always easy to use, so it is worth updating these pieces. Give them a new finish with either paint or stain, depending on your home’s decor. Whichever finish you use, coating it with a polyurethane finish keeps the surface pristine. This makes it easier to clean and the paint job lasts longer.

Things You'll Need

• Drop cloth
• Wood filler
• Putty knife
• Sandpaper – various grits
• Trisodium phosphate
• Scrub brush
• Bucket
• Primer
• Sponge roller
• Paintbrush
• Polyurethane finish
• Rags
• Tack cloth

Instructions

1. Set the table on a drop cloth or other protected surface in a well-ventilated area.

2. Fill any holes, cracks or dents with wood filler on a putty knife. Let the filler dry.

3. Sand the table using 60-grit sandpaper followed by 100-grit sandpaper and moving up to 220-grit sandpaper. This removes any previous finish, gives the table an even surface and provides a rough medium, so that the paint adheres to it.

4. Wash the table with trisodium phosphate, a scrub brush and a bucket. Rinse it with clear water and let it thoroughly dry. TSP washes away the sanding dust and removes any residue on the table.

5. Apply a latex, adhesion primer to the table using a small, sponge roller on the flat surfaces and a bristle paintbrush on the small, detailed areas and corners. Leg the primer cure, usually up to 24 hours. Do not let it dry longer than the recommended curing period or it hardens too much and looses its adhering properties.

6. Paint 100 percent acrylic paint onto the table. This paint is flexible and high quality with rich colors. Apply it in the same way as the primer, using a sponge roller and paintbrush. Allow it to cure according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Apply a second coat of paint. When finished, go over the entire flat surface with the sponge roller, pulling the paint all in one direction so it lies flat and has an even finish. Let it thoroughly cure.

7. Rub a polyurethane finish onto the table with a rag. Apply it quickly as it dries quickly. It goes on cloudy but dries clear. When it dries in about one hour, lightly sand the surface with fine sandpaper and dust it with a tack cloth. Apply a second coat and repeat the procedure until you have four or five coats of polyurethane on it. The polyurethane protects the paint when you use the table. Without it, the paint chips and wears off during regular use.

Tips & Warnings

• Apply stain instead of paint to the table. Rub stain into the table after washing and drying the surface. Use a rag and rub the stain in with the wood’s grain. Be liberal with the amount of stain. When finished, let it seep into the wood, and then wipe off any excess with a clean rag. Coat the stain with polyurethane, as you would with paint.

• Fill deep, wide holes in the table by sanding and cleaning inside the hole and filling with shellac. Sand the surface after it has dried so it is even with the table and finish as planned.

References

• Woodworking and Furniture Repair; Repairs and Utilities; War Department Technical Manual
• Refinishing Your Wood Furniture; David Crowe