Thanks. I finished sanding it. I had to sand it because it had some raised places and some deep scratches, not just because someone decided to use it as a painting bench several times. The bottom of the table is solid and the top is veneered. I stained it tonight and have put on the first coat of tung oil. It's not perfect and I didn't dare sand any deeper. There are a few small scratches and dings still showing, but nothing glaring -- just enough for a little patina. It looks about a billion percent better than it did. I'm really happy! I sure hope my son loves it as much as I do. I think he's going to be very surprised at this gift and it will look wonderful in his home.

It looks like painted pine. You could take off all of the paint and then just apply a polyurethane to seal it.

Cute table! it doesn’t look warped, is it? From the This Old House site. ”How do you remove white mold from wood furniture? How do you kill mold on wood? With a simple cleaning solution of dishwashing soap and warm water. Add a teaspoon of soap to a spray bottle filled with water and shake it up. Spray the affected area and use a soft-bristled brush to gently scrub away the mold, sponging up any excess liquid as you clean.” I would come along and dry the area quickly.

Oh dear, don't paint. But if you must, first spray a coat of clear shellac, you can buy it in a aerosol spray can. That will seal the wood to keep paint from getting into the pores of the wood and make it easier for someone to strip off paint at a laer time. Is good as a primer also. Also consider only painting table top and leave the legs as is., Try some mineral spirits lightly to clean them up.