How to sand and polish timber dining table top?

[TLC]

 

Hi, how do I remove the vanish and sand the pine timber dining table top?

Tried removing the top layer via turp and that multi tool I bought from Bunnings. Didn't remove the vanish.

I think there were orange oil vanish on top on the original vanish.

[TLC]

Hi

Thanks for your reply.

We have sanded it and put two coats of Bondall cedar stain and vanish and sand and wipe with damp cloth after each coats.

How can we remove those white markings as shown in the photos?

  

[JacobZ]

Hi @TLC,

Before applying the new coating, did you use the stripper and then ensure you thoroughly sanded the surface to remove all traces of the previous coating?

It looks like there is leftover varnish underneath your new coating. Unfortunately, I don't think there is an easy fix to this issue.

You could try sanding the white spots with some fine-grit sandpaper and then applying another coat of your stain and varnish, but if the issue is because of the previous coating, as I suspect, I can't imagine it will be perfect.

If it is like I suspect, unfortunately, it would mean you'd have to repeat the process of removing the varnish and sanding the table, ensuring all of the coating is removed, before recoating.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Jacob

[TLC]

Hi Jacob

We use paint and vanish stripper bought from bunnings and sand it down with orbital sander until the table top is clean and smooth. All scratches and mould are gone.

Do we just sand on those white marks with hand instead of orbital sander?

We use sandpaper to sand all over the table top.

[JacobZ]

Hi @TLC,

When you run your hand over the table, is it perfectly flat, or are there slight variations in the height of the timber? 

It looks like the white patches are at the low points, which is why I think you haven't gotten all the original coating off. If you used a random orbital sander over the surface, but there are low points in the timber, then the sanding paper wouldn't have made good contact and removed all of the varnish.

If you wanted to give sanding the patches a try, I'd suggest hand-sanding it to ensure you have good contact with these areas. Use a relatively fine-grit sandpaper like this 240 Grit Sandpaper.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob