How to sand and recoat a Specrite Acacia Brown panel?

Question

Our caravan builder has installed Specrite Acacia Brown on the table and bench tops. He advised oiling them occasionally, but I would like to apply a clear coating for water resistance, sealing and a smoother finish. Although I like the colour, the darker patches are really rough and need sanding. If I sand the timber back completely, is Acacia a golden colour wood? I really dislike orange tones so maybe I might have to pre stain? Has anyone sanded back and recoated this product with good results?? (Note: the timber looks quite golden as I had to put the lights on to take the photos. They are actually quite brown in natural light)

Berylnov52 · Answer

Thank you for the prompt response and your advice Jacob. I will try your suggestions on the underside of the cafe table, which is easy to remove.

JacobZ · Answer

Hi @Berylnov52,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

I've actually used the same acacia brown panels for some simple furniture at home, and sanding did lighten the surface ever so slightly, but it certainly didn't remove the deep brown and reveal any strong orange tones underneath. The timber retained a nice warm brown appearance rather than turning orange. I can't say I oiled or varnished it, but looking at the timber, I can't see that it would bring out any orange tones based on what I can see.

If your main concern is smoothing out the rough darker patches, I'd start with 120-grit sandpaper to remove the roughness, then move to 180-grit to achieve a nice smooth finish before applying your clear coat. That should give you a much nicer feel while still preserving the overall look of the timber.

I'd recommend using a clear water-based polyurethane finish such as Cabothane Clear or a hardwax oil designed for benchtops such as

https://www.bunnings.com.au/kaboodle-750ml-clear-hardwax-oil_p0313636

. Both will provide much better water resistance than a penetrating oil alone while making the surface easier to keep clean.

It would also be worth testing your chosen finish on an offcut or an inconspicuous area first, such as the underside of the benchtop, just to make sure you're happy with the final colour and sheen.

Check out

https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/home-improvement/splashbacks-benchtops/how-to-apply-clear-hard-wax-oil-to-benchtops

for some further guidance.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob