How to refresh old timber dining table?

Question

Hi, I have absolutely no experience at repairing/refreshing old furniture but would love to bring this dining table back to life. Have access to tools and have done some basic reading but would love some guidance as to how to go about this task and what materials/products would be best to use. Would love a coating that is hard wearing and heat resistant if possible. Any thoughts much appreciated. Thanks!

Noyade · Answer

If you like white - @Newbieatthis  - you could try Porter's Chalk. Little to no sanding required. And maybe talking to a glazier about a glass top?

MitchellMc · Answer

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Newbieatthis. It’s great to have you with us and many thanks for you question on restoring a dining table.

That looks like a fantastic table to restore. If you want to retain the timber look, I’d suggest sanding the existing stain and coating back to bare timber. As the chairs appear to have the same finish, you’d ideally need to refinish those as well if you want everything to remain consistent.

Start with a coarser sandpaper such as 80-grit to remove the existing coating, then work through 120 and 180-grit to produce a smooth surface ready for finishing. An orbital sander will make the tabletop considerably easier, while the curved edges and detailed areas will likely need to be sanded by hand.

Once you're back to bare timber, you can apply a timber stain in your preferred colour, or leave the timber its natural colour, before applying a protective clear finish. Something like Cabot's Cabothane Clear would provide a durable finish suitable for a dining table.

Although the coating will provide good everyday protection, I’d still recommend using placemats and trivets beneath hot cookware rather than placing hot items directly onto the finished surface.

Here's a helpful guide: How to restore furniture.

Also, you might like to read through some of the previous discussions in the community on restoring dining tables, such as: Lighten and Restore Parker Dining Chair by @sarahdawn and Oak dining table restoration by @katemckenzie95.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell