Wipe the surface of the entire table using the tack cloth. The base is pretty chewed up from my wheelchair but I think I can sand it out. The veneer on this piece was super thin, and I used … “Veneer repair is an easy job for woodworkers of almost any skill level,” according to San Francisco furniture repair and refinishing wizard Jim Kull. I took part in the One Room Challenge this year and made over my dining room -you can see … https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/refinish-veneer-topped-dining-table The only problem seems to be the finish wearing off. 4. 1) Remove all the veneer and then stain and/or paint top. HGTV expert Steve Watson gives you a list of materials and step-by-step instructions for refinishing a wood dining room table. Because each piece of furniture is unique, send the professional a picture of your item(s) and ask for a free cost estimate. Lifted veneer occurs most often at the corners of tabletops, on cabinet and dresser edges, legs, and drawer fronts. The top has diamond patterns so there are changes in direction that could make sanding difficult. Hubert Oresco is a writer with over one year of experience. Apply at least 3 coats of Shellac. Eventually I'll build a new one. Rob Johnstone: Chris is right on target for the best procedure for a full-out refinish. Then sand the surface with ultra-fine sandpaper and wipe off any swarf that results. Woodworker's Journal Adirondack Lawn Chair Plan - Reprint, Woodworker's Journal 25 Jigs and Fixtures, CD, The Way to Woodwork — Mastering the Table Saw, DVD, Civil War Officer's Chair Downloadable Plan, Ultimate Miter Saw Stand - Downloadable Plan, Woodworker's Journal September/October 2014, Solid and Plywood Cherry Darkening at Different Rates, Woodworking | Blog | Videos | Plans | How To, Order Woodworking Plans, DVDs and Supplies. Learning how to refinish furniture will help perserve furniture for years to come. As far as the new topcoat is concerned, if you like water-based finishes, you could certainly use a water-based polyurethane. Removing decades of dirt and grime often restores much of the original luster. Veneered furniture can be refinished like other wood furniture, as long as the veneer is not too thin, and you take care not to remove too much of the veneer when removing the old finish. Here are my tips for refinishing a wood veneer table! Brush a coat of chemical stripper onto the veneered furniture. 1) Our table had an existing wax finish, so we had to remove it first by using Mohawk's Wax Wash Remover. Brush a coat of stain onto the veneered furniture. Kevin recommends liquid Ivory dish soap mixed with water. You can refinish veneer almost the same as you would refinish a piece of solid wood, as long as you take precautions to avoid damaging the thin veneer. The table is often used as a game table so we would like a good hard finish. Wipe it clean with a tack cloth. My shop is small and in the basement (but well-equipped), so I prefer to work with water-based finishes but will carefully work with what you recommend. First, remove the residue of old glue left on the back of the veneer and on the base wood. Wipe the wood with a tack cloth and lightly sand again with 220-grit sandpaper to smooth the wood surface. To get the best out of staining your veneer, be sure to sand it carefully and thoroughly. Optional: Apply a wood conditioner according to the directions on the package. Chipped veneer is only part of the damage to this table edge. Sand the veneered furniture with 120-grit sandpaper just enough to rough up the wood surface. It took about 4 minutes to clean the entire table. Easy, peasy! That is indeed the best approach when the veneer was attached with modern glue, said Yasser Haridi, owner of Antiques & Furniture Restoration (703-437-7446; refinishing… The layer between the tabletop and the finish veneer has come unglued, too. It is an old library table it had old torn mahogany veneer that was so damaged I had to take it of oh what a job.I have been sanding and the place that had holes was filled with white filler i guess. The base and drop edges of the top seem to be hardwood. Brush on the first few coats of shellac. Rust-Oleum® makes a new Ultimate Polyurethane varnish that’s water-based, and the company claims it is 33 percent more durable than the competition with “maximum” scratch resistance. We’ve got three young kids so we’re always looking for ways to work efficiently. Shellac will give a serviceable finish to your wood veneer surface, but with limited durability. If so, drill a small hole to determine the thickness of the veneer. Cut the shape from the veneer or laminate using a laminate router. Allow the wood to absorb the stain for several minutes, then wipe off excess stain with a clean cloth. Brush in long, even strokes to avoid bubbles in the finish. There are a variety … Set the bit so it is slightly deeper … Strip the first finish. I am not really sure how you would go about fixing a patch - if the veneer is actual wood, you could try to match it with a piece from the lumber store. Handling of the material and storage for long periods of time can result in a loss of finish .You can either use an electronic finishing sander or hand sand with sandpaper to get the job done. A lacquer finish may have even been applied. Starting with your roughest sandpaper (60-grit), sand following the grain to get … Next, sand the table with the 150-grit paper, and finish by sanding with the 220-grit paper. Brush several thin coats of polyurethane to the veneered furniture and sand between each coats with 220-grit sandpaper. 2) Cut out the patches of veneer that are blistered and fill in with wood filler or Bondo. That should give you a durable finish and good results on most hardwoods. He has a degree from SUNY New Paltz. Lightly sand only after the polyurethane has dried and wipe clean after sanding. To get the most beautiful results, you should strip the table down to the bare wood veneer. You might be able to apply a finish on top of the existing finish with pretty good results if you take a couple of steps. Do test your stain on a small section of the table before you apply it liberally to all of the wood. After that you can apply almost any type of finish, polyurethane, lacquer or varnish. I need advice on refinishing a dining room table with a veneer top. A reader wants to refinish this 30-year-old teak laminate table, which is dry and water-stained. Question I was brought a walnut veneer table to refinish. It didn't turn out too bad. Work in a well ventilated area with low humidity and a temperature of 55 degrees F or higher. More than once we’ve pulled out the… Find furniture refinishers near you. Visit The Home Depot for the latest selection on … Removing the Old Finish If I would have realized it was veneer beforehand, I probably would have used a stripper first. Apply light, even coats that go … But if your main concern is that the finish is “wearing off, ” there might be another slightly easier option. Work with the grain of the wood Use a plastic putty knife to ensure you don't damage the wood, Hand protection and goggles are needed when using chemicals and sanding Keep your work area ventilated. The spray does let off some fumes, so open some windows if you are working inside like I was. This will dissolve the … But you can actually still remove the wood veneer and end up with a beautiful piece. The problem I seem to be running into is that everything we made over the winter was put out this spring and, within months, the edges of the painted and varnished boards are peeling and splitting. If it is a typical 1/42" veneer I would sand off all the finish. Would really appreciate any help you can offer. First, clean the surface with soap and water, drying it off completely. He has written for Demand Studios and several other online clients, including quizwinners.com. Make sure you know what you’re committing to. Your table has probably been covered in many coats of teak oil. Veneer allows a craftsman to finish a woodworking project with a beautiful exotic wood that might not otherwise be affordable or attainable. (Reader photo) He recommended turning to Jeremy Fair, who ran Modern Laboratory Restoration, a furniture-repair company in Washington, until it closed after a fire a year ago. If the loose veneer is undamaged, it can be reglued. Wipe the veneered furniture down with a damp cloth to remove the stripper and bits of finish. You can use traditional strippers; however, more environmentally friendly products are now available. It would be a shame to accidentally sand through the top veneer if it is thin and still in good shape. Allow the coat of stain to completely dry. Furniture refinishing is typically done by master woodworkers or carpenters who have experience in revitalizing old or damaged wood. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Allow the stripper to stand for the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer. Sanding not only affects the staining process but also the appearance. Work slowly to avoid gouging the wood. Steps to Refinish a Table. You have a nice edge band that will stop sand thru. My old table needed a facelift. This will dissolve the old finish. Normally one wants to balance the layup so you would have veneer on the bottom as well. Veneer is very thin sheets of hardwood sliced from logs for use mainly in the furniture industry. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, Nursery Progress: Refinishing Veneer Furniture. This veneer can become scuffed and scratched from wear and tear and may need to be refinished. You'll need a rotary sander, router with round over bit, stain, rubber stain brushes and a big box of rags. Then I would have hand sanded it the rest of the way. I only did the top, just to get a little more life out of it. Blistered veneer can be repaired 3 ways Veronica. November 12, 2006. How To Refinish A Dining Room Table Veneer Top: Tutorial on how to refinish your dark wood veneer table and create the driftwood grey Restoration Hardware look. – Paul Nyberg. You’ll want to check the thickness of your veneer before you start so you have an idea of what grit sandpaper to use. He lives and works in New York City. The veneer seems solid and tight with no lifting or warping. Scrape the old finish off the veneered furniture with a putty knife. Apply Stripper. 3. Brush a heavy coat of sanding sealer onto the veneered furniture and allow it to sit for the time recommended by the manufacturer. Refinishing wood veneer is so difficult. A painstaking procedure, the repair of any damaged veneer is essential to proper refinishing of the wood veneer furniture. With a light hand to avoid sanding too deep, a refinished veneer table looks as good as new. The original finish was obviously oil, and somewhere in the table's life, someone painted it dark brown. Set up your tabletop refinishing project in an area with good ventilation, as the compounds used in the process … A thorough cleaning is an important first step in any furniture refinishing renewal project. Refinishing a table over tarp saves time sweeping and saves your garage floor from any drips or spills. The log is peeled like a roll of wrapping paper, so it keeps the same grain for multiple passes. Whether you are refinishing a family heirloom or upcycling a fun thrift store find, furniture refinishing is a project that you can tackle in an afternoon. The table has been abused and there were numerous rings on it. I simply sprayed it on and wiped it off. Take care not to remove too much material as veneer is not too thick. Brush a coat of chemical stripper onto the veneered furniture. First, sand off the old finish. Then follow up with a good wipe-down with mineral spirits or TSP (trisodium phosphate). Use steel wool to scrub the finish off in areas that are hard to reach. Chris Marshall: Since that tabletop is veneer, and you’re set on switching to a harder finish, I’d probably use a chemical stripper to remove the old finish instead of sanding it off. If the surface looks good and uniform in color, you can apply a coat of dewaxed shellac as a base coat. What would work best, sand or strip, and what would I use? Sand Off the Old Finish Turn over the table and remove the legs, if possible. Feel the top to see how much damage has already been done. However, if the finish is completely worn through on the top, I think it would be best to get down to bare wood and apply a whole new film coat. I removed the veneer from the top of this table thinking it was hardwood throughout, only to find out that the edges were wrapped in hardwood with a particleboard center (ugh). If your veneer is really thin, I would stick to a medium or even fine grit sandpaper. Wipe off excess with a cloth and allow it to dry. You might consider giving it a try on your project. This will probably take about an hour or two, and you'll want to do it outside if possible. Veneered furniture is wood furniture that has a thin layer of decorative wood on its outer surface. This is especially true if the finish is not worn completely through. Thanks in advance. 3) Slice the blisters with the grain and use a syringe to inject wood glue. Do wait to sand your table … Refinishing pros offer opinions on how to refinish a badly marred wood-veneer table top. Just look at my Hand-Painted Faux Barn Door Coffee Table! Depending on how thick the veneer is, you might be able to refinish the table if you do it carefully. 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