Thread: Question on staining furniture!

Hey guys,

My wife and I have decided to do some work on our kitchen table. It is a simple Ikea table but we want to sort of update the look.

I sanded the table top down and got it to bare wood. I put 3 coats of Minwax stain on the table, sanding with #0000 steel wool in between 2 of the coats. My question is, how do I finish up the table top? Should I sand the last coat down with steel wool and coat with a clear coat of polyurethane?

Thanks guys,

Kyle

What type and color of stain did you put on?

Generally speaking polyurethane is a pretty straightforward choice. It wears well against water, heat, and some chemicals. It's not always hard though, and can show writing marks if you write on the table, particularly if you are impatient in applying multiple coats.

If you can get to a Woodcraft, I've heard that Behlen's Rockhard tabletop varnish is a good choice.

Well if it's information on staining furtiture you want then look no further... I have five experts on staining all types of furniture in new, exciting, irrevocable, and expensive ways. They are all at school right now but they should be home around 3:15 Pacific.

Seriously though, I never buff the last coat with steel wool, I let it set up and then polish it well. WFIW.

I think I'd just finish sanding the stain at 600 grit and put two thin coats of polyurethane on it and give it a satin finish with the steel wool.