Okay - the general consensus seems to be the stains should remain! I'll probably clean it up a bit with wax and 0000 steel wool, just to get any grime off, but I won't worry so much about using a special product on the stains. (The bright green ink stain, however, may have to go as I didn't feel it has as much history to it as the darker stains ;-).) moonshadow - I never find much of anything on my local CL either, so I look in the LA and San Diego areas where all the good stuff is! Even then, it took me a year of searching under "antique pine" to find this. My DH wants me to actually have the space completed before I start filling it up, but I told him these things don't come up too often in my area.

Thanks for the ideas.. and I forgot to mention I had a furniture refinisher quote $1900 to refinish the set!!!! The set was given to us, 20 some years ago, and I can not for the life of me find anything like it on the internet, to price new... It is a great sturdy table and chairs... kids can't tip those puppies over... but the photo does not show the heat damage and water damage on the table top.. it does need to be sanded. I just posted a question over in woodworking to see if someone can identify the wood...walnut maybe? Thanks for the ideas...

There are no finishes that meet your requirements. There are some that come close, however. You will need to pick the one that fits most closely. All in one stain /finish products are seldom good choices since the combination is a blend of two different substances and the result is not as good as the individual parts. Stain(or dye is the better choice), hand sand, and finish according to manufacturers instructions is still the best method. Poly-chips fairly easily. Very difficult to repair, normally needs sanding/recoating. However, if the blemishes add to the rustic look, then poly is the best choice. By your light sand and reapply statement, varnish is the best choice. You can feather out chips and the reapplication will blend in the area. Varnish(from a real paint store, not the poly varnish most favored by home improvement stores) has better water resistant properties than lacquer or shellac and is easier for DIYers to use. Lacquer and shellac can be applied over previous coats of the same finish and blend with the old layers since both products partially dissolve even hardened coats of the like finish. But, neither have the resistance to water damage varnish has. And both dry so quickly, they are difficult to use on large surfaces.

I don't know these particular products, but a lot of R&B wood stuff is solid maple or walnut, not stained maple or walnut, and species matters for durability. For a table in general, I'd want maple, but if you get the second table, I'd still prefer the walnut. I think I like darker legs here, whatever the top is. And you might not be as hard on things as I am. :) I'd prefer a more organic shaped table with wishbone chairs--these are so industrial. But I guess the table sort of fades into the background, and these make good use of the space. Love the comment about how they are the same as what you've got. I guess they are all rectangular and therefore the same? Ha!