Refinishing Coffee Table

[John Williamson]

I have this old coffee table. It's a bit of a mess but I quite like it that way. Only problem is that it's a light wood and all other furniture in the room is dark wood. I think it's oak but not sure.

Any recommendations on getting it dark without losing the character too much? I've had limited success with stain but was thinking of sanding to 180 and going at it with some tinted hard wax oil. Sound sensible or stupid?

 

[opps]

I would go with spirit based stain. Apply and wipe off the excess using lint free cloths- Scott paper towels, whilst not cheap at about £7 for a single roll, are really good. Then go with your wax of choice.

 

[John Williamson]

I would go with spirit based stain. Apply and wipe off the excess using lint free cloths- Scott paper towels, whilst not cheap at about £7 for a single roll, are really good. Then go with your wax of choice.

Thank you. Any reason not to just use a tinted wax oil? Would do both jobs at once

 

[opps]

Thank you. Any reason not to just use a tinted wax oil? Would do both jobs at once

It is, in my opinion, easier to judge colour change when using spirit based dyes. The have the added advantage of soaking in to the timber. Granted, only by less than one MM. Coloured waxes do not penetrate as deeply, they are surface based. That said, if the table were to be scratched, you could probably touch in the coloured wax.