How to prepare outdoor timber table for oiling?

kand

A few months ago I picked up an outdoor round timber table. It was in very bad condition, so even though I hadn’t done any wood work since I was in high school (I turn 70 in September) I thought I couldn’t make it any worse. 🫰

I have finished the sanding and it looks okay. But now it needs to be oiled.

The question is whether I should wash the timber (and let it dry) before I oil it, or what do I do?

I have read so much about this topic that I don’t know what to do. Give me your best advice, please.

EricL

Hello @kand

Please allow me to greet you an advanced happy birthday just in case I forget this coming September.🎉If it's possible, would you be able to post a photo of the rescued sanded table. This will give our members a much better idea of its condition and will perhaps allow us to offer more suggestions.

You've pretty much covered the first basic step which is to sand the table back to wood. This is important as it will allow you to uniformly stain the surface. Any section left unsanded will not absorb the stain properly and you'll end up with a patchy finish. To remove all the sanding dust on the table, I suggest wiping the surface with a damp cloth.

Here is a handy step-by-step guide:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMTBa0AvQW8

Please remember to wear personal protection such as gloves, goggles and a mask.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric