How to Strip a Veneer Table Top

A thin coating of wood veneer can help to make any pressed wood core table top look far more solid than it actually is. No matter how it looks, though, the veneer is just a thin layer of material that can only take so much before the damage goes beneath the surface into the pressed wood. Stripping the veneer from the table top and replacing it is the only way to repair this sort of damage effectively. It's a labor intensive process requiring that you do most of the work by hand, but once complete, you'll have the core tabletop cleared and prepared for a new veneer application that will make the table look as good as new.

Screwdriver
Wrench
Workbench
Clamps
Wide butt chisel
Cloth
Sanding block
Sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the top of the table from the legs and apron with a screwdriver or wrench as needed. Place the table top onto a workbench and secure it in place, with a clamp on both ends. The clamps will prevent it from moving as you remove the veneer.
- 2
  Strip the first layer of veneer with a wide butt chisel. Hold the chisel with the bevel side up, and place the chisel onto the table top at about a 30-degree angle. Scrape off the veneer with the chisel, going against the grain of the wood. Work in rows, beginning at one end of the table and working toward the other end. Wipe the surface with a damp cloth to remove any sanding particles.
- 3
  Remove the second layer of veneer using the same process as in Step 2, except work with the wood grain for the second layer, perpendicular to the first layer's direction. Wipe the surface with the damp cloth to remove sanding residue.
- 4
  Sand off any remnants of the veneer or adhesive with coarse sandpaper attached to a sanding block. Remove the sanding residue with a damp cloth to complete the veneer removal.

Steps in Making a Small Table

How to Repair Extension Table Extension Slides

Tables