How to Polyurethane a Table

Adding a clear coat of polyurethane brings out the natural beauty of a wood table. Polyurethane topcoats applied over painted or stained surfaces add a layer of protection from moisture, stains and scratches, and intensify the furniture's sheen or gloss. It's easy to polyurethane an old table, bringing new life to a worn surface, and even simpler to polyurethane a new, unfinished table. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Sand the painted or stained surface of your old table with medium-grade sandpaper. Remove the sanding debris with a damp cloth, and then sand the table again with light-grade sandpaper. (This will remove most of the scratches left by the medium grade paper.) Repaint or stain the table, and let it dry completely. For new, unfinished tables, clean the surface with a damp cloth. If the table has rough spots, lightly sand them first, then clean the surface.

2

Pour some polyurethane into a paint tray or container. (It's best not to apply stain, paint or polyurethane directly from the can, as your brush may contaminate the contents with debris.) For best results, use a sponge brush to avoid bristle stroke marks.

3

Apply a light coat of polyurethane to the table legs, moving your brush in the direction of the wood grain. Apply a thin coat to the table top using long smooth strokes. Discard the sponge brush after applying each layer of polyurethane. Allow the polyurethane to dry completely.

4

Apply a second coat of polyurethane. If the polyurethane manufacturer recommends using steel wool, go over the surface of your table lightly with steel wool (0000). Clean off the debris before adding a new coat.

5

Add thin layers of polyurethane to your table until you reach your desired level of sheen and protection. For water-based polyurethanes, this may be up to 12 coats, or more. (Oil-based polyurethanes require fewer coats to achieve the same level of protection, but the dry time is significantly longer; the longer your table sits while the polyurethane dries, the more dust and debris may affect the finish.)