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DIY polyurethane a brand new dining table?

11 years ago

Maybe I need to ask in a different forum, but I know you are the experts on all things kitchen. We finally decided upon a new table and chairs/bench for the kitchen. I searched and searched, and I couldn't find anything that was "perfect" in terms of style, size, AND durability. I found a table at Crate and Barrel that I like the size and style of, but many of the online reviews state that it scratches easily. (Nearly all of the tables that I liked in my search had reviews about scratching easily.) I am totally fine with a few nicks and dents, but since our current kitchen table has just a wax finish I know how destroyed this table top will get. It's not pretty. (And honestly, more of the scratches and ring marks are from GUESTS than from us. How come no one uses coasters anymore?!?!)

I'm not into glass or acrylic toppers. The finger prints and food smudges would drive me nuts. I don't want to always use a table cloth because I really love the wood grain.

Anyway, can I DIY polyurethane on a brand new table?

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Comments (5)

hags00
11 years ago
If the table has a wax finish you cannot poly over it.

Test your table when you get it to determine the finish - put a drop of water on the table and let it sit there for 10 minutes or so. If the water turns creamy white the table has a wax finish, if it does not it is poly. If it is poly, you should be able to lightly sand it and add another coat or two if you want.

If it is wax finished -

Strip the wax with Naphtha and a scotch brite pad.

Sand lightly and seal with 1 or 2 light coats of a dewaxed Shellac (Seal Coat by Zinsser)

Poly-sanding lightly between coats

Not hard and will be worth the effort to bulletproof your new table top. I wouldn't bother with the legs. I poly'd our antique oak family table and it held up wonderfully under the abuse of a very active family.
Fori
11 years ago
I'd ding it up first and wait to poly it. It might hold up better than you expect.

I understand how hard it is to find the perfect table--I ended up getting one from 1961 and I did indeed strip and poly the top before use, but it was beat up already. The woodworking forum here is active enough to help you out if you need it (as long as you have a few days:) ).

I would find out from the manufacturer what exactly the finish is, whether it's something you can just scuff and apply poly or whether you need to strip it completely. That brings the whole "is it veneer and if so how thick" question into play...

I'd learn to love a glass top.
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hostagrams--I really appreciate your comments about Canadel. I've been doing some research for the last couple of years and that brand seems to give me the type of set 'm looking for in the price range I want to spend. I don't want to have to baby the table all the time. Did you use placemats all the time, or did you set the plates directly on the table? I don't like tablecloths on the table except for special occasions. I have been looking at a double pedestal table for a long time and really hadn't thought about a single pedestal. Do you all think the double pedestal would still look too cluttered? Our current table is 42" x 60". I may take out the center leaf and see how a 42" round table will work, but that seems kind of small even though it's just DH and me. It's the only table we have and we use it for everything. I would think any larger circumference would be too close to the wall. I do totally understand what you all are saying about only needing the additional space a few days of the year. It makes a lot of sense. But I also don't know if we'd be comfortable with anything smaller than what we currently have.
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northcarolina
11 years ago
Not a dining table, but I poly'd our coffee table. First I sanded the top down to bare wood or close to it -- I had to do this because of marker and glue and some other things that came of having used it as a train/craft table for the kids. Then I put on I think 3 coats of a water-based polyurethane. Very very easy, little to no odor and it has held up well so far. The poly looks just like what's on the rest of the table; not sure it would look right if the rest of it had a different kind of finish. I think I used satin.

There are dining tables out there that have a poly finish or something similar, I saw them when I was looking last year. Of course the ones I liked best had a wax finish. Oh well. One of them was at Crate & Barrel too; wonder if it was the same one you saw.
sanfranman12
7 years ago
I know that this is an old, old thread. But if you are still on the forum, please tell me what you did! Did it work? I've got the same issue. Thanks!
Gwen Kinder Slone
3 years ago
I am in the same boat I have been searching for months for a perfect dining table! I have kids and they have killed my current set. I am nervous about coating a brand new table :( what grade sand paper would I need? I am just going to go for it because either way,sandpaper it will be junk if they destroy it or I do it either way lol...I would love to epoxy it but I am not an expert and I wouldn't dare tackle that with a new table...I am going to keep my eyes out for an old piece and refinish it and try the epoxy finish on that ha ha..

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