# How do I strip the finish off a wood table? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 4, 2009, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-strip-the-finish-off-a-wood-table/520024 "2009-12-04T20:08:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-strip-the-finish-off-a-wood-table/520024/1 "2009-12-04T20:08:19Z")
(Mods, I wasn’t sure where to put this, so please move if necessary.) Our kitchen table was handmade by my former stepdad. He finished it, stained it a nice cherry color, and then (we think) put a polyurethane finish on top of that. It’s several years later, and the finish is starting to wear off. The original wood is showing through in places. I am thinking that the way to do this is to strip all of the finish off, and then restain it, and then re-polyurethane it? I don’t know much about this kind of thing and thought I would solicit advice. I would ask my stepdad, but you will note my use of the word “former” – he and my mom had a fairly acrimonious divorce a few years ago, and contacting him is not really an option. So, suggestions? Right now we’re just throwing a tablecloth over it but I’d like to get it back to looking pretty all on its own. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-strip-the-finish-off-a-wood-table/520024/2 "2009-12-04T20:23:58Z")
Hm, I think the title actually should have been “How do I refinish a wood table?” Whoops. ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-strip-the-finish-off-a-wood-table/520024/3 "2009-12-04T20:26:51Z")
Is overall sanding the whole table an option? I _think_ that’s the only way to get rid of a stain. Doesn’t that soak into the grain? Or did you just mean strip off the old poly? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-strip-the-finish-off-a-wood-table/520024/4 "2009-12-04T20:27:38Z")
When you say the original wood is showing through do you mean that the stain has worn away? If so, I don’t see why you can’t just sand it down to the original wood and start over. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-strip-the-finish-off-a-wood-table/520024/5 "2009-12-04T20:28:45Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > When you say the original wood is showing through do you mean that the stain has worn away? If so, I don’t see why you can’t just sand it down to the original wood and start over. Well, I think that’s what we’re going to do, yeah, but I’m not sure what “starting over” is going to involve. 🙂 Just, restaining it, or is there some kind of clear top finish that goes on after that, or..? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-strip-the-finish-off-a-wood-table/520024/6 "2009-12-04T20:35:48Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Well, I think that’s what we’re going to do, yeah, but I’m not sure what “starting over” is going to involve. 🙂 Just, restaining it, or is there some kind of clear top finish that goes on after that, or..? It’s up to you. Generally a polyurethane top coat is added for protection. A simple step by step method is explained [here](http://www.ehow.com/how_4866620_stain-poly-unfinished-dining-table.html). ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-strip-the-finish-off-a-wood-table/520024/7 "2009-12-04T20:41:10Z")
Ah, thanks! Hm, perhaps I should have Googled… ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-strip-the-finish-off-a-wood-table/520024/8 "2009-12-04T20:49:35Z")
Just an anecdote, but I accidentally discovered once that Pine Sol will eat right through polyurethane.