In the spirit of getting Thanksgiving-ready, today and tomorrow I’ll be revealing some more dining room furniture I was able to finish up this week. So if you’re looking to refresh your dining room to host family and friends in just a few short weeks, then you’ll want to continue reading.
Parents often hold onto furniture with the intention of passing it on to their children once they get settled into their own homes. They store items in their cellars for years only to find out that their kids have their own styles. Or, if the furniture is worn, they’re just not sure how or don’t have the resources to refinish it.
That’s where I come in.
A very nice older couple posted this table on CraigsList. My husband was nice enough to take the short two-mile trip and lug it out of the couple’s basement with me. The couple was so happy to hear I was planning to restore it and I was so happy to have it. It was the best of both worlds.
In this photo, we just propped the table on the pedestals as soon as we got home so I could take a photo. As you can see, the original stain was a dark expresso and the table was pretty banged up from being stored in the cellar all those years.
The first thing I did was sand it down with my DeWalt rotary sander (affiliate link). It took a couple of hours, but the wood easily smoothed out.
From there, I applied Minwax Polyshades in classic black satin (affiliate link). As you can see in the photo above, even though Polyshades has the polyurethane right in the stain, the first coat still comes out a little dull; but four coats later, the finish was smooth and reflected a light satin sheen (photo below).
To apply Polyshades, begin by spinning the can to mix the stain. You can also open the can and stir the stain, but do not shake it. Shaking causes air bubbles in the polyurethane that will show up when you transfer it to the table.
Every time I’ve applied Polyshades with a brush, I’ve been left with lots of air bubbles and an uneven finish. Unlike stain that you can apply with a brush, let sit for a few minutes to soak in, then wipe off the excess, you cannot do that with Polyshades because of the built-in polyurethane that gets sticky soon after you apply it.
Instead, apply the Polyshades with a clean rag. A t-shirt works perfectly. Dip the rag in the stain and, following the wood grain, wipe the stain onto the table. Doing it this way vs. applying the stain with a brush, means you’re wiping off much of the polyurethane with the rag so it will require more coats for adequate coverage; but, in the end, you’ll achieve a smoother finish.
The table can be a 48-inch round or, with the three leaf inserts, it extends to 84 inches. Similar pedestal dining tables at Pottery Barn are priced at $1,999. I’m offering this one for only $650 – a total bargain!
This black stained, extending, dual-pedestal dining table is for sale in my Shop.
Please remember to subsribe via email or follow on Facebook.
Leave a Reply