Can I refinish a table that isn't solid wood?

[LisaR]

I have a wood finished dining room table that has had one too many science experiments done on it. It has bleach spots, permanent magic marker and other spots of unknown origin. It isn't scratched, though.

The table is not solid wood. I don't know what you call it - veneer, maybe?

Can I sand it down and put polyurethane on it? Everything I have looked at online talks about solid wood. I've refinished solid wood tables but I am not sure about this one. Of course, the table is already ruined so I can't hurt anything. I just hate putting the time into it if it won't work.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

I have a wood finished dining room table that has had one too many science experiments done on it. It has bleach spots, permanent magic marker and other spots of unknown origin. It isn't scratched, though.

The table is not solid wood. I don't know what you call it - veneer, maybe?

Can I sand it down and put polyurethane on it? Everything I have looked at online talks about solid wood. I've refinished solid wood tables but I am not sure about this one. Of course, the table is already ruined so I can't hurt anything. I just hate putting the time into it if it won't work.

It depends on the type of veneer you have. If it's real wood veneer, then you can probably do a light sanding on it and then restain and seal it. If it's "fake" veneer, which most disposable furniture is these days, the wood grain is just printed on a thin layer (sometimes even of paper) and then sealed onto the table, in this instance, sanding it off will show an awesome layer of particle board.

You can try looking underneath to see what type of wood it is made of, but no guarantees.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

If it is veneer, it is tricky but can be done, I just did it. I would first look at what your working with, look underneath etc. you can do a very light sand on it, and then stain or poly over it. Is there any scratches? you would have to fill those in.
It can be done thou.

take photos of it, take it to the local home depot, and they can recommend what you need.