How to Refinish an Old Table

Earlier this year we took the large timber table we had on our verandah and turned it into a kitchen island. The best thing we ever did indoors! Sadly, removing the table left a gaping hole in our outdoor area. I had plans to try my hand at making a new farmhouse table like one I’d seen online but last week I came across an absolute bargain on FB Marketplace. A handmade table for $100. As soon as I saw the table, I knew it wouldn’t take much work to transform it into a lovely piece and in this post, I’m going to share with you the simple steps to refinish an old table. All it takes is a couple of hours of work and a few basic tools.

The History of the Table

Our table was built in the Borallon Correctional Centre in Queensland around 20+ years ago. The man who sold it to us was the Governor of the centre and one of the inmates made the table for him. The previous owner recently moved to Hobart with his partner. The table was supposed to stay behind but on moving day, it was accidentally loaded into the removal container. Luckily for us! I’m unsure what variety of timber the table is but given it was made in a prison and is quite light, we assumed it’s some kind of pine. It’s not yellow like pine though.

How to Refinish an Old Table

The first step in refinishing an old table or any old piece is to clean the piece down and give it a good sand to remove any lumps and bumps. To sand our table, I used the belt sander with 80 grit sandpaper. This knocked the red stain off very quickly. You could use a smaller sander or strip the table first with paint stripper but the belt sander was fast and combined two jobs in one. I sanded the edges of the table where the bevel is with a detail sander using the same grit of sandpaper as before. It took three passes to remove the stain completely and expose the natural colour of the timber. It took an hour or so.

After sanding with rough sandpaper I went back over the entire top with a fine-grit sandpaper using the detail sander. I then brushed the top and washed the top and legs down to remove any residual dust.

The Next Steps to Refinish an old Table

The last part of the process was quick and easy. Using a foam roller and my favourite matt varnish, I gave the top three coats. I waited for twenty minutes or so between coats. Normally, I’d wait longer but I was working in the sun and each coat dried quickly. I’ve used this varnish on projects such as the kitchen island and the $2 cabinet in my office. The finish is so good and I like the fact it is UV resistant so the wood will be protected outdoors. I gave the legs two coats while I was varnishing. I also added some plastic feet to the bottom of each. If the verandah gets wet, the timber legs will not be sitting in water now.

Now our table is done and sitting in its new home on the verandah, I can’t wait to use it! We keep it covered with a table cover when not in use. This protects it from the elements and means our $100 table will see many more meals.