Carpentry and Woodworking - Refinishing an oak veneer tabletop

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ragtop69gs
01-05-09, 09:31 AM
I want to refinish this kitchen table and want to know the best way to sand the top without creating crossgrain scratching in the cross direction veneers. I have random orbit and vibrator sanders. The original finish (polyurethane I think) is almost completely gone. What finish should I use to redo? I will be doing this in a heated basement.

http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/475/tabletop1dy0.jpg

the_tow_guy
01-05-09, 12:09 PM
A very fine disk on the random orbital sander should do okay. A light once over should suffice; just enough to clean it up and give you a good surface. Minwax's water-based poly is my finish of choice and I generally use three coats with a light sanding in between. Among other things, the water-based poly won't drive you out with the fumes while working in the basement and the re-coat time is way shorter than with solvent-based