How to restore an old pine kitchen table

[TheRunningMan]

I've seen an old pine kitchen table which I am thinking of purchasing and would like to have a go at restoring it to a country looking style.

Its similar to this one

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and this is the look I'd like to achieve

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Once I've got it back to bare wood I'm sure it wouldn't be to difficult but its the process of getting it back to the bare wood I'm curious of how to do.

Would I just sand it or would I need to use some sort of chemical based stripper to do the job.

Cheers folks, Crofty

 

[oldgreymouse]

Hi crofty,
Looks like the table has just had a couple of coats of varnish on the top.
If it is the old spirit varnish or water based varnish, get some course and fine wire wool (wickes)with a tin of multi finish varnish remover.
Apply as per instruction on the tin, do a small 18" rough square first, allow to soak in and the varnish should start to bubble, don't let it dry out, so re-apply a little more over the 1st coat. Trim off a chunk of the course wirewool with old scissors and with GLOVES on proceed to remove all the remover turning the wire wool and rubbing it all up and down the grain till the wire wool is full of all the crap, keep moving down the length of table and don't leave off half way, finishing with the finer one as you go to get the last remains off. Wrap the old used wire wool up in newspaper.
Wash off, then if you are happy with it move on to finishing the table in your next finish.

This is just my way of doing it.

 

[dcdec]

Think i'd just wallop it with a belt sander starting low and working upto a higher grade for a smooth finish.

Paint wise an eggshell would be appropriate i should think

 

[TheRunningMan]

Thanks guys. I shall look at the bits in Wickes and think about the belt sander (don't have one at the moment so would have to invest).

I've got the paint I would use sorted for the legs and bits underneath but I'd like to keep the top, once taken back to natural pine I'll probably wax it too keep it natural