What Do I Need to Know About Sanding a Very Old Table?

Look for Veneer

• Improper refinishing techniques could permanently mar a favorite table, so investigate the construction details before deciding on an approach. Highly figured wood grain denotes expensive lumber, most often used as veneer applied over a stable base. Veneers often cover end grain and exposed sides to mask differences in color, but the wood beneath a table's surface seldom receives the extra veneering layer. If hidden surfaces don't match the visible wood, the table probably used veneer and needs special treatment.

Note Complex Surfaces

• Tables often include complex shapes such as clawed feet. Cabriole styles imitate an animal's leg with a rounded upper shoulder and a tapering curved shank. Sandpapering old leg patterns changes the shape of the part. Even simple squared post legs may show well-defined, sharp edges created by planes and scrapers. Softening those edges with abrasives takes away an important detail. Carved surfaces were crafted with sharp chisels and gouges and degrade quickly if sanded.

Steel Wool

• Steel wool made for refinishing furniture removes old finishes after softening with solvents and polishes wood without removing the old surface layer. Steel wool wrapped around bits of wood shaped to fit into crevices helps clean complex carved shapes. Coarse grades of steel wool could scratch the wood if used with too much pressure. The "Fine" or "00" grade of steel wool safely polishes and smooths veneers without thinning that important layer. Blemishes in finishes don't require sanding; buff out white marks and small scratches with "0000" steel wool and polishing compound.

Sanding Techniques

• Sanding out a deep scratch or dent in a tabletop replaces that damage with a larger, shallower depression. Cracks and dents patched with filler and then sanded could match the old surface well if properly stained. For a flat surface, always use a sanding block and work with the grain using straight strokes. Take care not to round important edges.

  Power sanders speed up the work on large, flat areas. Choose machines that vibrate in one plane only, not oscillating sanders that use circular strokes. Finishing sanders that work in a straight line match hand sanding better and allow working with the grain.

  Fine-grit sandpaper puts a final surface on softwoods, but use very fine grit for hardwoods. Extra fine sandpaper smooths finishes between coats, and super fine polishes the final finished surface.