Easy Process Of Refinishing A Tabletop With Polyurethane Varnish
If you have a wood table that has been scratched & stained badly, then you don't need to quickly throw the table in the garbage or toss it in the dumpster, because you can easily refinish the tabletop in many ways. One of the best ways to refinish a tabletop is by applying a polyurethane varnish, which in turn will make your table look attractive & beautiful. You will simply need a small can of polyurethane varnish, a little bit of elbow grease, and a few minutes of your time, & it is guaranteed that your table will shine like new again.
Items Needed
- Polyurethane Varnish
- Paintbrush
- Mineral Spirits Or Paint Thinner
- Sanding Paper (100 And 220 Grit)
- Lint-Free Rags & Paint Stirrer
Steps
- Work In A Well-ventilated Area: First of all, you need to ventilate the area where you are going to work on tabletop & the most preferrable & well-ventilated area is a porch or open garage.
- Sand The Tabletop To Its Bare Wood: After that, the tabletop needs to be sanded down to its bare wood. With the help of medium sandpaper (100 grit), get rid of all the old layers of finish in addition to the stains and scratches. When down to bare wood, you can use very fine sandpaper (220 grit) in order to smoothen the surface.
- Wipe Off All The Dust: Now, wipe off all the dust with the help of a lint-free rag. If required, you can also use a vacuum with a brush attachment. Finish off with the help of a lint-free rag moderately moistened with mineral spirits.
- Stir The Polyurethane Varnish Smoothly: Next, open the can of polyurethane varnish and stir smoothly & tenderly in order to get rid of the residue that has settled on the bottom. Make sure not to shake the can, due to the reason that it will cause air bubbles.
- Apply A Thin Layer Of Polyurethane Varnish On Tabletop: After that, dip the paintbrush in the can before applying a thin layer of varnish on the tabletop & make sure to follow the direction of the wood grain. When you dip the paintbrush in the can, let the excess varnish drip into the can-do not force away from the excess by pressing the brush on the inside rim of the can due to the fact that this produces air bubbles.
- Allow The First Coat Of Polyurethane Dry: Let the first coat of polyurethane dry for several hours, in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations when it comes to drying time.
- Prepare The Tabletop For The Second Coat Of Polyurethane: Prepare the tabletop for the second coat of polyurethane varnish by firmly sanding the first coat with the help of very fine sandpaper, stroking through the wood grain. Vacuum-clean or wipe off all sanding dust.
- Apply A Second Coat Of Polyurethane: Finally, put or spread a second coat of polyurethane, allowing it to dry, then firmly sand again for the third coat. Applying three coats is generally enough, however, four to five coats give the table a thick as well as long-lasting & durable shine. There is no need to sand the final coat of polyurethane.