How to Fix a Wood Kitchen Table With a Cracked Finish

Put on a mask and gloves. Dip an old paintbrush into chemical paint stripper. Apply a ½ inch coat of the product. Let it penetrate the paint or varnish for 20 minutes.

Pull a paint scraper towards you to lift the sticky paint from the wood in long strips. Remove as much paint or varnish as you can with this method.

Pour paint stripper directly onto a piece of 0000 steel wool. Rub in a circular motion to remove any paint that is deep in crevices or areas that couldn't be reached with the scraper.

Combine one tablespoon of dishwashing soap and warm water. Wipe down the table with the soap and water to remove all chemicals from the surface. Allow the table to dry completely.

Sand the table with fine grit sandpaper. Move the sandpaper along the surface of the table, moving with the wood grain. The wood will feel soft and smooth. Remove any sanding dust with a tack cloth.

Dip a soft cloth or t-shirt into stain. Wipe the stain onto the furniture, applying light pressure to rub the stain into the wood grain. Remove the excess stain with a separate clean rag. Let the stain dry. Apply a second coat of stain.

Apply a thin, even layer of polyurethane topcoat to the kitchen table with a clean brush. Allow the topcoat to dry. Apply a second coat of polyurethane.