The Zen of Sanding

Really, I didn't want to sand.  I really really didn't.  I even called my dad to see if he would let me off the hook.  So many nooks and crannies.  A compromised was reached with logic and laziness, I would thoroughly sand the top and kinda sand the base.

So I discovered I needed 3 levels of sanding to do this properly (well 4 actually).  The first sanding with 60 grit paper roughed it up and got all the varnish off, and my hands felt just like 2 balloons.  The second with 120 grit paper got it back to semi smooth but after the 320 grit the top felt like baby skin.  I petted it for a while and washed it with water and was proud that I actually sanded instead of slopping paint on.

I used 4 coats of black Behr paint and gave it a full day to dry in between coats.  (The first coat shouldn't be a super thick 100% coverage coat.  The second and third coats will make sure you get full coverage.)  I had to research top coats.  Minwax makes a water based Polycrylic that works really well.  The bubbles are hard to control but after awhile I got down a technique that worked.

The table has a leaf that tucks away, I patted myself on the back for remembering to paint it at the same time as the rest of the table. I think the base is my favorite part of the table.  Very dramatic yet sturdy and respectable.  I'm still contemplating polishing up the end caps on the legs, but they do have a nice patina.

The fourth sanding comes in between the first and second coats of polycrylic. Use something like 320 grit.  Make sure you get every bit of of the sanding dust off.  Wipe it down with water, let it dry and repeat a couple of times.  I put on 3 coats of polycrylic.  (eta: I can't believe I forgot to mention the help I got from John Yourdon on this part, he sanded and applied the second and third coats!) The finish is well worth the time.  Table tops take tons of abuse and really must be topcoated to prevent totally ruining the table and wasting all the time you put in sanding.

So here it is, tonight it will go to market.  I put a lot of work into fixing it up and I can only hope it goes to a good home where kids will bang on it with cups and stab it with forks.