Place a drop cloth under the table. Strip the existing finish from the table. If it's stained, sand the wood using 60 or 80 grit sandpaper, then 150 grit sandpaper. Brush away the dust with a bench brush and wipe with a tack cloth. If the table has been painted, use stripping compound, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Once the paint is removed, sand with a sanding sponge.
Push any nails below the surface using an awl and hammer. Apply wood putty with your finger or a putty knife.
Apply a sanding sealer if you’re staining your wooden table. Mix well and minimize brush strokes as much as possible. Start with smaller areas first and avoid overlapping strokes. Allow to dry according to label instructions, then lightly sand with a fine grit (220 or 240) sandpaper and brush away all dust with the bench brush. Wipe with a tack cloth and apply a second coat. Let dry.
Apply stain with a foam brush, if you’re staining the wood. Wipe off the stain after 5 to 15 minutes (check your product’s label) with a clean, lint-free staining cloth. Let dry according to product instructions. If painting, use a brush recommended on the product label to apply a thin coat of paint. Let dry.
Apply the second coat of stain or paint, following step 3 and 4. Let dry.
Seal the stain or paint with two coats of poly-acrylic finish, letting the poly-acrylic dry in between coats.