# How to Refinish a Cherry Table
When refinishing a cherry wood table, the type of finish you use can bring out the lush coloring in the wood grain, giving your furniture the look of an expensive piece. You want to choose a stain that will penetrate deep into a hardwood and one that has a heavy pigmentation. The most acceptable type of stain for cherry wood is a gel stain. There are several brands of gel stain available at your local hardware store that will provide an even layer of color on your table. Companies such as Thompson and Provincial have a good-quality gel stain product for your refinishing needs. When selecting your stain, choose a shade of cherry that will bring out the natural color and grain of the wood without masking its richness.
Things You'll Need
- Canvas tarp
- Paintbrushes
- Paint remover
- Hand sander
- 200-grit sandpaper
- Medium and fine-grit sandpaper
- Dusting brush
- Cherrycolored gel stain
- Lacquer
- Steel wool pad
- Varathane
- Paint thinner
- Empty coffee can
Instructions
-
-
1
Lay a canvas tarp out and place the table on the tarp. Use a paintbrush to apply paint remover to the surface of the table. Allow the paint remover to set for a couple of hours to soften the lacquer and finish.
-
2
Sand off the old finish with a hand sander and 200-grit sandpaper. When all of the old finish has been removed, use a medium-grit sandpaper to get rid of any remaining nicks or scratches in the wood.
-
3
Finish sanding with a fine-grit sandpaper to get the surface of your table ready for a new layer of finish. Use a brush to clean off any remaining dust or debris from the table after you finish sanding.
-
4
Apply a coat of cherry gel stain to your table with a paintbrush and allow the stain to dry thoroughly. Spread the coat out evenly, and do not leave any pooling or blotches.
-
5
Apply a thin layer of lacquer to the table and allow it to dry. Lacquer is a much more forgiving sealant and dries quicker than other sealants, like varnish. Applying a thin coat will give you a more consistent look to the cherry table and will resist yellowing. Use a steel wool pad to smooth out the rough edges when the first layer of lacquer is dry.
-
6
Brush off the dust from the steel wool pad and apply a thin second layer of lacquer. Allow to dry and then apply a coat of Varathane and allow to dry for several hours. Applying a coat of Varathane will give your cherry table the ability to resist scratches and dents.
-
1
- How to Stain a Coffee Table
- How to Stain an Outdoor Table
- How to Refinish a Canadel Table
- How to Refinish a Lacquer Table
- How to Refinish an Oak Table
- How to Refinish an Antique Cherry Table
- How to Refinish a Kitchen Table
- How to Refinish a Teak Table Top
- How to Refinish a Wood Table
- How to Stain Brazilian Cherry
- How to Refinish an Antique Mahogany End Table
- How Do I Stain a Kitchen Table?
