How to Restore Pine Tables

Brush a heavy coat of chemical stripper onto the pine table and allow it to sit on the table for the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer. This will cause the old finish to peel.

Scrape the peeling finish off the pine table with the putty knife. Scrub the finish off harder-to-reach spots like underneath the table with steel wool. Wipe the pine table with a damp cloth to remove stripper residue.

Sand the pine table with 120-grit sandpaper to remove the last bits of the old finish. Wipe the table with a tackcloth to clean off sawdust and sand it again with 220-grit sandpaper to smooth the wood surface to ensure the new stain absorbs evenly. Wipe the table again with a tackcloth.

Brush a heavy coat of sanding sealer onto the pine table and allow it to absorb into the pine wood for several minutes. Wipe off excess sealer with a cloth and allow it to dry. Sand lightly with 220-grit sandpaper and wipe it clean with a tackcloth.

Brush a coat of stain onto the pine table with a clean brush and allow it to absorb into the wood for a few minutes. Wipe off excess stain with a clean cloth and allow the stain to dry completely.

Brush a thin coat of polyurethane onto the pine table with a clean brush with long, even strokes. Allow the polyurethane to dry and lightly sand the table with 220-grit sandpaper. Wipe with the tackcloth and brush on a second thin coat of polyurethane. Allow the polyurethane to completely dry.