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Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2021-02-05 Origin: Site
A properly protected wood table will last for generations, yet the table top is particularly vulnerable to scratching, scraping and moisture. Sealing that surface requires a tough, transparent water-resistant coating that highlights the beauty of the wood beneath. If the table is used for serving meals, you'll want to take additional steps to make sure your sealant is food-safe.
Woodworkers value a tung oil finish because it adds subtle visual warmth to the wood that does not become darker as it ages. Tung oil is best applied by rubbing it into the surface with a wiping cloth. It will only take two or three coats to sufficiently protect the table's legs, but you will need to apply six coats to the table top if you want it to perform as a water-resistant sealer coat.
Shellac is a penetrating varnish that's been used on American table tops since Colonial days. A shellac finish allows you to view the wood detail with remarkable clarity. Amber shellac provides the same clarity but it also adds warmth to light-colored woods such as pine or oak. Shellac can be applied by brush or wiping cloth, and three thin coats will serve as a moisture-resistant sealer. As a sealant coat, shellac is perfectly adequate for library table tops, but it may not be sufficiently water-resistant for use on a dinner table where liquids might be spilled.
Oil-based polyurethane varnishes are tough enough to use on basketball court floors. They form a transparent film over wood surfaces and protect them against dents and scratches, while also providing a moisture-resistant barrier. Polyurethanes are good sealants for wood dinner tables or gaming tables because they block spilled water, milk, greasy food and alcoholic beverages from seeping through to the wood beneath. The downside to polyurethane is that the coating may form a cloudy, plastic-looking film over the wood that can yellow as it ages. In addition, a newly-applied polyurethane contains aromatic solvents that pollute indoor air as the coating dries and cures.
Carnuba wax can be applied directly to unfinished wood as a protective sealer coat, and it will block moisture and serve as a barrier coat for spills of short duration. Carnuba wax is more effective when used as a furniture polish in combination with a shellac finish or other thin varnishes. The wax is usually rubbed onto the table top in paste form, where it combines with the base varnish coat and improves its water resistance.
