bought a beautiful second hand coffee table, but the prior owner has obviously attempted to sand it. Resulting in the terrible pigtails on top. Any ideas on how I can save it?
Hi @ejg84,
Ironically, the best way to remove those sanding marks is to sand the tabletop back again, starting with a grit course enough to remove the marks, then working progressively through finer grits until the surface is smooth. Make sure to keep the sander moving evenly and avoid pressing down too hard, as this can create more swirl marks.
I'd suggest you'll need a random orbital sander as it is a relatively large table and hand sanding it will be a huge undertaking. Start with 80 grit to remove the sanding marks and the coating, then use 120 grit to further smooth and refine the surface, then finish up with some 180 or 240 grit to get the surface nice and smooth before coating.
After sanding, make sure to brush down the surface, and ideally, vacuum it to remove all the fine sawdust. Wiping it down with a tack cloth can also help to remove the finer particles.
Once the surface is prepared you can finish the timber with a timber finish such as oil, wax, varnish or a stain, depending on the look and level of protection you want.
Check out https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/diy-skills/repairing/how-to-restore-wooden-furniture for some guidance and let me know if you have any further questions on the process.
Jacob
