What’s best varnish to refinish an antique round oak table?
I refinished it 25 years ago with a McCloskey product that has held up well everywhere except the edges where oils from peoples’ arms have softened and darkened the finish. Now there are no more oil based varnishes available hereabouts, but I don’t need much and I can buy something in Nevada if necessary.
So what do you recommend?
BruceT
Replies
No oil based varnish?
He is from Califonia Gretchen. No oil base finishes will be coming to you soon, brought to you by the fine people who are superior to you and are going to save the environment one hobby shop at a time. Your shop and mine of course.
Rob
Bruce,
Did you try to clean the table with dish washing soap (like dawn) and water followed by a cleaning with mineral spirits? You may just have an oily build up on it.
The McCloskey product you may have used is still available. McCloskey products are being folded in to the Cabot line. Here is a mail order site that will sell you the McCloskey product or its Cabot equivalent...
http://www.o-geepaint.com/ArchiCoats/cabot.shtml
I recommend the McCloskey heirloom varnish (not the poly) which they still have, or the Cabot oil varnish which is supposed to be the same thing. Behlens Rock Hard varnish is another good choice that will darken the wood a little more than the McCloskey product. Pratt & Lambert #38 is about the same as the McCloskey Heirloom. Waterlox varnishes are also a good choice for tables, again these will be a little darker.
Rob
Thanks for the link and the suggestions. I'll give them a try.
BruceT
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