Over time you might find your furniture looking to be on its last leg . Your first thought might to be is purchase another. I'm here to tell you that is further from the truth . With a little bit of time and patience your furniture can be looking as new as the day you bought it . Here I'll show you how you can refinish a table ( this particular table is for exterior uses, which could take quite a beating). The rules apply to all furniture refinishing as well as refinishing cabinets .
Table Refinishing Steps
- First you want to make sure the table is clean of grease, dirt, and grime . You can do this by wiping the furniture down with a degreaser such as TSP
- Secondly you wanna sand off the current finish of your table (the clear shiny coating) Most likely it'll be a lacquer,varnish or polyurethane. To do this you want to use a coarse grit sand paper like 80 grit . this will get the finish off rather quickly . You can do this with a power sander or with regular sand paper sheets . the latter being the faster option.
- Next you want to wipe down the table AGAIN . You can use tsp again, mineral spririts, or a damp rag. This step is crucial to refinish a table . You want to make sure no dusts or dirt is still present on the table that will show up in your finish .
- After your table is clean and dry it's time to lay down your first coat of finish . In the video above I'm using verathane oil based semi gloss clear coat finish. There are a multitude of products to use . this one is sold in almost any box or hardware store. Even in your local Walmart. It comes in different finishes as well. Matt, semi-gloss, and gloss . You can choose which suits you best. The application process can vary as well. I like using a brush. But other application methods could be roller, or even sprayed on.
Make sure the product is thoroughly stirred to prevent bubbles from forming in your finish .
When using a brush it is best to use long strokes and keep a wet edge to prevent flashing and have a smooth finish product. Making the space your working to refinish a table is well ventilated. This will help the finish dry at the same rate.
- Once your 1st coat is on you have to wait for it to dry. The manufacturer specifications recommends 4-6 hrs for oil based products and 2-4 for latex . If you have time , to play it safe i'd say let it dry over night. when it is fully dry you will need to sand it with a fine grit sand paper 220 -400 grit will work just fine . This is to make sure everything is smooth an uniform . Also if there are air bubbles you can knock them down.
- Do A final cleaning ( don't use mineral spirits this time as it will dissolve the finish ) dust off dust and use a wet rag to get it clean again for your 2nd and or final coat .
- Lastly Lay down your final coat just like you did your first . Let dry and enjoy your newly refinished table .