How to Refinish a Scratched Wood Table

Introduction

If your wood table has been scratched deeply or damaged, use this guide to restore it to near new condition.

Wood tables that are antique can look great. A damaged or scratched wood table may not look appealing to you or your guests. Deeper and/or longer scratches, as well as chipping, are common on some tables.

Before you use this guide, make sure you read your manufacturer's instructions to figure out how to remove the legs from the table.

Since sanding and painting can be demanding on many people's bodies, perform this fast fix in a well-ventilated environment to avoid dust and fumes.

What you need

Step 1 How to Refinish a Scratched Wood Table

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Flip your table over on the tabletop or on the side if applicable.
Get your hex keys or screwdriver.
Using your tool to unscrew all of the legs on the table.

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Step 2

Using a damp cloth, wipe down the tabletop and all of the legs.

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Step 3

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Get the 220 grit sandpaper and cut a smaller piece.
Sand the tabletop until all scratches are leveled with the wood.
Sand all of the legs.
You may use a sander if you do not want to sand the table by hand.

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Step 4

Paint all of the legs and let them dry.
Be sure to mix your paint to ensure it hasn't separated before applying.

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Step 5

Paint the tabletop and let it dry.
If using wood paint, coat the tabletop more than once.

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Step 6

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Line up the legs with the screw holes.
Hand tighten the screws and then use the hex keys or screwdriver to completely tighten.
Attach all legs and flip the table onto its legs.