Revamping Dining Table

NewbuyerNE

My partner and I have been gifted an old chunky pine dining table for our new home. It's been in the family for 40+ years and still has it's funky 70s yellow/orange varnish on it!

I'd really like to strip it back and start again but don't want to ruin it and be the reason it's gone to the scrap heap.

My question is, what would be the best finish for it to stop it going it's yellow/orange colour? I've read that staining pine is an absolutely nightmare but I don't want it to be a shiny yellow colour.

Also, how long does it take before the wood colour starts to change?

I don't want to pay a restorer to do it and would love to save money and go it alone.

Cheers!

DirectDebacle

Carefully strip the old finish off with Nitromors or similar and a blunt stripping knife. If the edges are moulded use No2 (coarse) wire wool to work the stripper in to the moulding and remove the finish. When all finish removed wash down with copious amounts of meths and a nylon scourer. This will not only clean stripper residue but also neutralise it. Once done you can decide if the colour you are left with is what you want. Wood darkens with age so the patination of your 40 yr old pine might suit you. If not then bear in mind most finishes will darken wood to a certain extent, even clear.

I would recommend for a dining table using a polyurethane varnish. Many are readily available and with stains added if you wish. They are heat and moisture resistant and correctly applied very durable and easy to repair if damaged. I generally use Ronseal P.U. varnish but not the Quick Drying or waterbased variety.

Apply 3 coats to bare wood as follows:

1. 1st coat 60 white spirit/40 varnish

2. 2nd coat 40 white spirit/60 varnish

3. Unthinned varnish.

Denib with 320 grit wet and dry (used dry) between coats if necessary.

You won't ruin the table. If it all goes pear shaped just strip back to the wood and start again.