3. Strip the first finish. Starting with your roughest sandpaper (60-grit), sand following the grain to get rid of what’s on the table now: varnish, old paint, whatever.

Apply at least two coats, since dining room tables get a lot of use, allowing each coat to fully cure before applying the next one. Buff a Tung oil finish with a cotton rag. Allow the final coat of polyurethane or Tung oil to dry for at least 24 hours bef

I’ve used it on a number of projects—including tables—that I built for The New Yankee Workshop and for my own use. It offers great protection, has the look of a hand-rubbed oil finish, and is easy to apply. It also dries more quickly than brush-on p