- 1). Lay a tarp on the floor under the table to protect the floor as you work.
- 2). Remove the old finish on the surface of the tabletop with a chisel. Hold the chisel perpendicular to the surface. Press the tip of the chisel slightly into the table's surface and pull the chisel toward you. The old finish should peel up as you move the chisel across the table's surface. Repeat until the entire tabletop is stripped of the old finish.
- 3). Wipe the surface of the tabletop with a cloth to remove the particles and scrapings.
- 4). Sand the tabletop smooth using sandpaper. Smooth the entire surface until all the bumps, scratches and uneven areas are gone.
- 5). Wipe the tabletop with a damp cloth to remove the wood dust.
- 6). Stain the tabletop. Dip a paintbrush into the stain and let the excess drip off. Apply the stain to the surface of the tabletop in even, steady strokes. Always apply stain in the direction of the wood grain. Allow the stain to dry for 3 to 6 hours.
- 7). Apply a polyurethane topcoat to the tabletop surface. Paint on the topcoat in the same manner as the stain, with even strokes in the same direction as the wood grain. Allow the topcoat to dry for 6 to 8 hours.
- 8). Apply multiple coats of polyurethane to the tabletop, usually 3 to 5 coats are necessary for a table. Allow the surface to dry between coats.
- 9). Allow the final topcoat to completely dry before using the tabletop.
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