How to Refinish a Wood Table Top

Refinishing a wood table top can put a new shine on what was a grubby surface. Sometimes table legs endure a journey better than the surface does and where the legs may still look new, a lifetime of use is evident on the table top.

Step 1 – Prepping the Surface

To start with you will have to remove the old surface from the table top. This might be old bees wax, varnish or other coating, like paint. Heavy grit sand paper is the best way to strip it back to the wood without the use of chemicals. 

Step 2 – Sanding

Attach some of the heavy grit sand paper to the sanding machine. When you sand, follow the same direction as any wood grain on the table top. Normally the grain will follow the length of the table, rather than the width. Sand off the top surface of the previous coating. It may a take a few runs and it may also take a few different sheets of sandpaper before you get to the absolute bare wood.

Step 3 – Smoothing

Heavy duty sand paper will leave the surface slightly rough. Smooth it by attaching some of the fine grit sand paper to the sanding machine. Run in the same direction and feel with your fingers how the smoothness increases with each run. When it feels as smooth as you think it is going to get, switch the sand paper for wet/dry. Do not attach it to the machine.

With your hands, soak the wet/dry paper in warm water and ring it out. Rub it in tiny circles over the whole surface of the table top and you should find that as you move and feel the top, there is a marked difference between the textures. Wipe with a clean dry tack cloth until there is nothing stuck to the surface.

Step 4 – New Surface Finish

Yacht varnish is probably the best type of surface cover because it turns tougher with each coat. The yacht varnish should ideally be oil based polyurethane varnish for the best results. Paint the first coat on as smoothly as you can, covering the whole surface. You will notice pin head bubbles start to appear in places. Don’t be alarmed at this because they will disappear as it dries.

Step 5 – Further Coats

For the absolute best results it is suggested that you put at least five coats, possible up to seven for the hardest and most durable finish. This is guarantee that your refinished table top will last for another lifetime. Apply the second coat once the first coat has totally dried and you have wet/dry papered it again. Between each coat it is important you use the wet/dry, soaked in water, just give a good bond for the each subsequent coat.