Finishing a Wood Table

Q: How should I finish a new, bare-wood table that I just bought? I want to stain it darker than it is now, then protect it with something. What do you recommend? Is a water-based polyurethane sealer be appropriate? Satin or gloss?

A: The finish you apply to a kitchen table is important for both looks and durability. And your first step is to finish some test samples using the complete strategy that you’re considering. This is the only way to get an accurate sense of what you're getting into visually, before committing yourself with the table. As for the approach, here's what I did on the kitchen table I built for my family. I started with one coat of a medium brown oil-based stain, brushed on, then wiped off. This colours the wood, but offers no protection. Next, I applied three coats of Armor Coat oil-based urethane (Canadian Tire's own brand) in a satin formulation. I've tried many urethanes over the years, but this one remains my favourite oil-based product. Flecto and ICI brands of water based urethane work well, too, though they’re somewhat more challenging to get a good finish with them than with oil-based products. Also, it's absolutely necessary to sand lightly between coats of finish using 240-grit sandpaper. This removes the fuzziness created by the finish as it dries. Don't sand after the third and final coat, though. After it dries, you’re ready to go.