Coffee Table - Sanding and Refinishing with Orbital Sander

Before

I purchased a package of different sandpaper grades. The package goes from 60 grit to 220 grit. I'm starting with 60.

I had some finish that needed to be removed, plus some slight water damage and some pet related scratching. The orbital sander vibrates the sandpaper so that you have rotating motion for your back and forth sanding motion. It removes more wood with less effort.

Sanding in one direction is advised. I had a few spots that I needed to make circular motions just to get down below the scratch. I tilted the orbital sander on edge to impact the sanding just a slight bit more.

Once I am satisfied with the overall sanding, I'm going to up my game and go to the next grit level.

I'm going to use this coffee table to display my houseplants. I will be using a polyurethane coating for water resistance.

I plan to attach walnut slices to the edge below the top for decoration, since that is what I do. Slice walnuts in my sawmill.

One day at a time. I will sand the rest of the faces, then, switch to the next grit sandpaper. 80 grit.

I'm using two metal sawhorses to hold my table at a comfortable height for working on it.

Minwax Helmsman Spar urethane is my coating of choice. I took a brush and spread it across the top, then flipped the table on edge and coated the faces with the slices.

It's a little drippy, so I'll have to sand the drips off and recoat. I plan two coats with light sanding in between coats. The can says that sanding will make subsequent coats stick better.

I'm trying to do one brush strokes across. Squat down and look for puddling.

They are Stuck Tight

Soak brush in Mineral Spirits in Between

Coat walnut shells evenly.

Dry. Then light sanding with 220 grit sandpaper. This removes a slight bit of the bubbling and makes the second coat adhere better.

Then, carefully coat the table, pulling the brush slowly across the surface.

I'll coat it two more times.

Sanded and Re-Coated - You Can See the Difference

Sand and gently coat in brush strokes going one direction.

Look for drips. Use brush to gently remove.

Then, clean the hands with mineral spirits.

Clean Hands with

Installed in my Dining Room