I’m glad the wipe on poly worked for you and you can always add more by just giving it a light sanding with steel wool. Also if you want more of a sheen from your satin finish you can steel wool it to bring out some gloss.

Hey, whatever works, those Sharpies work wonders.

Way to go Jody, I’m sure you we be proud of your work and enjoy the table for some time.

My son had used the table at one time for a saw horse..eegads…my fault…anything out in the garage is usually *fair* game…so I filled the four nail holes but stain wouldn’t take. I used a black sharpie to *color* in the filled holes. Looks great…just looks like the other distress marks…is that the right word..distress?

As far as the stripper and it depends on what kind you are using, but I used water and #0000 steel wool to clean it up as it helps neutralize the stripper. I never use a scraper on wood unless I’m chipping off old paint and going to repaint. I use steel wool on all the phases. I stripped our 16′ wide redwood garage door using steel wool. I was glad when that was over.

When patching nail holes I use sanding dust from sanding and mix it with stainable glue (Elmer’s makes one) to make my own putty and it matches well. A light sanding and you don’t see it. They do make pencils with matching colors for all types of wood also. Otherwise your putty idea works too, but it might not take the stain the same as the cherry wood. If you go with buying putty see if you can find a darker one or one that matches than the usual light colored ones.

I’ve used tung oil on things before and it’s ok, but it requires maintenance with repeated applications. I think it was Homer Formby who supplied it with his restoration kits which was popular back in the 70′s & 80′s.

Now I use a polyurethane made by Minwax. It is applied by hand rubbing so putting it on is very easy, you just rub it on thinly and wipe off the excess so you don’t have to worry about runs. I always apply at least 3 coats and use #0000 steel wool lightly between coats. It is very durable as it has held up well on all my doors and trim. I use semi gloss because I don’t like high gloss either. I tried the satin but it was too dull.

Well, I hope that helps.

What kind of finish would you recommend? Dad always used Tung Oil, but I have since then heard that is not a good choice. I don’t like shiny. Only on FireFly;)

It has been *years* since I have refinished anything and the products to use have increased ten fold. There are three tiny nail holes that need to be filled…I was thinking wood filler with a cherry stain mixed into it.

Oh Steve…I am as excited as a six year old on Christmas morning!

I’m sure you will cherish that table for years to come.

Are you going to restain it with a finish clear coat?

I’d give you a hand, but I’m so far away.