Paint the chemical solvent along the top of the table to remove old paint and stains on the wood table. Generously apply solvent into the carvings and give the solvent ten minutes to work.
Wipe the solvent away with a clean rag, removing the old stain. Use the putty knife to scrape stubborn paint or stain sections away.
Fill the carvings with the wood putty, smoothing it over the crevices with the putty knife. Give the putty three to four hours to dry, unless otherwise instructed by the manufacturer's label.
Sand the tabletop with the medium-grit sandpaper to even out the top. Follow the medium-grit paper with the fine-grit paper to create a smooth finish that can be stained or painted.