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We have an oak dining table that I originally used a water based 'oil' on, then I rubbed down the top and retreated it, also with something water based from Homebase about 3 years ago.
It's time to do it again (few scratches and marks - plus some paint from when my daughter did her art homework on there...).
The current surface is a bit 'sticky' for my liking - what can I use that won't react with a previous treatment that'll give a good seal and be relatively hard wearing? I'll rub it down with wet and dry first but don't want to retreat the whole table, just the top surface.
Interior varnish? Acrylic based/water based.
I think the problem with water based finishes (from my experience with floors anyway) is the unpredictability of the “take” from new to old and the visibility of the old underneath the new once the new has cured. The “stickiness” is possibly where the last “new” reacted with the previous. Is it too much faff to get a random orbital on there to sand back to unfinished timber and re-coat with finish if your choice? A primer coat, topped with two coats of finish would give you a better finish. (Primer will raise the grain bigly so will need a good rub back, obvs.)
Appreciate it’s easy to advise someone to do a shitload of work when they’re looking for an easier solution. 🙂
I've got a belt sander and a random orbital so it's all possible and nowt wrong with an excuse for using power tools 🙂
what finishing product would you recommend DD?
I’d probably avoid using the belt sander. They can be a bit vicious. Random orbital probably best and less risky. You’ll know when you’re back to bare timber and if just doing the surface, it shouldn’t be too hard. Just work up from 40-80-120 then use some 120 to rub parallel with grain prior to coating.
I’m a bit inexperienced with water based finishes as everything flooring wise is oiled these days.
Kayak knocks up some pretty nice’n’rough furniture 😉 so I’d defer to him on finishes for interior oak. I imagine an acrylic varnish will do nicely.
cool, thanks 🙂
Osmo Polyx-oil is an excellent oil/wax for tables - highly resistant to spills and stains - and is possibly the most easy-to-apply finish. It can also be repaired/reapplied in small areas.
Sanding a table is no easy task, very easy to pull up the less dense, early-growth fibres n oak. You’ll end up with irreparable undulations if you go at it too hard. Practice in the underside first!
I would also have recommended something from Osmo, but the OP already has a water-based finish on the rest of the table - so I imagine he doesn't want to change it too much. If an oiled based finish is feasible, then yes, anything recommended by Osmo for the job would be good.
yes, the idea is that I end up with something that looks the same all over, not a different surface just on the top.
Ive just used Osmo Polyx Matt finish on recycled kitchen worktops - very happy with the results.