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Learn how to Refinish a Wooden Desk and Take away Water Stains | Thrifty Decor Chick

I turned our water-stained wooden eating desk into a stunning piece that’s
protected towards meals and liquid!

In case you have an actual wooden piece of furnishings that has stains from meals and
drinks, this tutorial will assist you to deliver it again to life. I am SO happy at
how this ended up!

We bought our eating desk years in the past at an area retailer in Indy known as City
Underpriced. I beloved that it had a stable wooden high, not simply veneer. The wooden
planks have all of the knots and imperfections that I believe offers furnishings
character. 

Sadly, we shortly realized there was little to no protecting coat on
the tabletop. At first it did not trouble me a lot, however after 5 years the
stains have been throughout: 

water rings on wood table

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We additionally had wine stains, oil marks and even some nail polish remover: 

oil water stains on wood table

It was a large number! 

I lastly bought to it a couple of weeks in the past and the refinishing course of went so
easily, I used to be kicking myself for ready so lengthy! 

Why does a mission go so simply after I suppose it is going to be time consuming, and
take ceaselessly after I suppose it is going to be a couple of minutes?? Each. time.

1. Sand down imperfections and water spots

Earlier than sanding, I wiped down the desk nicely. You wish to be sure there’s
no residue on the floor which may gum up the sanding pad. 

In case you have any caught meals, use a putty knife to take away it earlier than
sanding. 

I used my
cordless orbital sander
for this job — I’ve gone to battery-operated for nearly all of my instruments
now, and so they make DIY a lot simpler!:

The orbital sander has a spherical sanding space that hastens the
course of. 

I used to have issues with these sanders leaving skip marks — it will
drive me loopy! In any case that work, seeing these little
imperfections was so irritating. 

I discovered the reason for these skip marks have been from pushing too exhausting on
the sander. In the event you let it do it is job, the method is far faster and
simpler! 

Listed here are some fundamental ideas for utilizing an orbital sander: 

  • Begin with a rough grit sandpaper (I began with 80) and transfer to
    finer one (120 grit) to your final go.
  • Let the sander do the work! Don’t press exhausting on it or you’ll get the
    dreaded these skip marks. Let it glide throughout the floor, and solely add
    a bit extra stress on downside areas. 
  • Sand with the grain of the wooden.
  • Place the sander on the floor and then flip it on. If you
    begin sanding whereas it is working, you would possibly injury the wooden or get the
    marks I used to be speaking about.
  • Empty the mud collector typically to maintain the mud within the air to a
    minimal. 

I used to be pleasantly shocked at how little mud settled close by. I needed to
wipe down a couple of issues, however total the collector hooked up to the sander
does an important job. 

That oil mark pictured above took a couple of extra passes than the remainder of the
desk, and I had so as to add a bit stress whereas engaged on that spot. I
prefer to tilt the sander only a bit so I can use the sting of the pad on
downside spots like this. 

2. Clear your floor nicely after sanding

After sanding, you will wish to do cleansing to take away all
of the mud earlier than staining or treating the wooden floor. 

I vacuumed first, specializing in the grooves between the planks: 

vacuum sanded wood
A tack cloth is the easiest way to take away the remaining mud, as a result of it is
sticky floor grabs all the things, however is not moist. 

I did not have one helpful, so I used a microfiber material as an alternative: 

cleaning sanded wood

In the event you’re planning to stain the wooden, utilizing a barely damp rag is OK.
Getting the wooden moist will open up the wooden after sanding, which might help it
settle for the stain a bit higher.

However I choose to not use something moist, as a result of it could make the imperfections
pop up once more. Typically it occurs, typically it does not…however on extra
porous wooden like this one I did not wish to take an opportunity. 

3. Select your protectant

I wished to maintain the pure look of the wooden so I wasn’t going to stain
this piece. That is how the desk sorted the sanding and
cleansing: 

sanded wood table

I exploit polyurethane on surfaces that do not get as a lot put on and tear — like
cabinets or constructed ins. On tables and counters I a lot choose the pure
end and look of Tung oil. It offers you the sturdiness of different varnishes,
but additionally actually brings out the pure colour of the wooden.

Over time, I’ve used each pure Tung oil and a “end” model
that has some components, and each maintain up fantastically. Pure Tung oil has no
components, however takes longer to dry. 

There are SO many advantages of Tung oil:

  • The end does not yellow or darken over time.
  • It offers a protecting, pure sheen to the wooden end. I discover shiny
    polyurethanes present scratches and scrapes extra.
  • Tung oil is eco-friendly and made with crushed seeds from Tung tree
    nuts.

  • Pure
    Tung oil is meals protected and non poisonous. You should use pure oil on
    slicing boards, utensils or wooden bowls. (Let it remedy earlier than utilizing.)
  • It is simple to use with only a delicate material.

4. Making use of Tung oil

I exploit a foam brush when making use of polyurethane coats, however Tung oil is even
simpler!

Simply pour it on the floor and wipe it in with a lint free rag, with the
wooden’s grain: 

applying Tung oil to wood

I like to recommend sporting gloves through the utility! 

  • Use a beneficiant quantity and wipe it into the wooden. You may see the outcomes
    immediately! 
  • Wait 10-Quarter-hour after which use a clear rag to wipe up any extra and buff the floor (rub the oil into the wooden).
  • You are able to do a light-weight sanding with a advantageous metal wool in between coats, however
    should you prepped nicely, that is not mandatory more often than not.

Dry occasions can fluctuate primarily based on the humidity and product you utilize. 

Pure Tung oil
can take two to a few days to dry, however Tung oil finishes which might be a mix
solely take 24 hours, typically much less.  

5. Add sufficient coats

The instructions all the time name for quite a few coats, however on some items I discover
that is not mandatory. I solely do one (possibly two) after I retouch our
island yearly or so, and that holds up nice

Extra porous wooden (massive pores within the wooden) like our desk soaks in
no matter you apply, so extra coats are mandatory.  

Our maple counters on the island aren’t as porous and take much less coats.

I can inform simply by wanting if I want so as to add extra after the primary coat. Use
the sunshine and take a look at the floor at an angle: 

uneven finish Tung oil

See the shinier components? That is the place the end lined nicely. The matte areas
are wooden that absorbed the oil and nonetheless wants extra coats. 

In whole I utilized three coats and since I wasn’t utilizing pure Tung
oil, it took lower than a day to dry between coats. 

The result’s a water-proof desk with a
beautiful satin end. Like most protecting merchandise, it
enhances the look of the wooden: 

natural wood finish tung oil

My closing coat was fairly darn easy, however as a of entirety I prefer to go
over it shortly with a bit of paper bag or kraft paper: 

sanding with paper bag

It is wonderful how simply that paper will knock down the tiniest imperfections
and depart you with a superbly easy end!

 

The very best half is that the Tung oil does not permit moisture to penetrate the
wooden:

protect against water on wood

Our wooden desk is a richer tone now…you may actually see the variations
and heat of the wooden:

natural wood finish with Tung oil

We LOVE it! 

This is a reminder of the way it regarded earlier than: 

water stains on wood

All the stains are gone and we now have a lovely wooden tabletop!

Our
wood dining chairs
was once the identical lighter wooden because the desk, however I spray painted them
black a pair years in the past. We love the distinction:
wood table black dining chairs
We changed the tall parson’s chairs on the ends with these
lower upholstered dining chairs, additionally from World Market. The cats saved enjoying on the taller chairs and
knocking them over. 🙂

The brand new chairs are SO cozy! I like the extra causal search for this
area: 

wood table with black chairs

Now the cats curl up collectively and cuddle in them as an alternative of climbing all
over! 😉 Nicely…for probably the most half.

sweet kitties

This refinishing tutorial will work for any wooden furnishings piece. It should
eliminate the water spots and forestall them from coming again!

Have you ever used Tung oil on any wooden surfaces in your house? 

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