Seeing the varnish on my CD30's (bulkhead mounted) cabin table begin to lift, I decided it was time to re-finish. Being a more-or-less compulsive type, I decided I would take it down to bare wood before re-finishing.
So, I attacked it with my random-orbit sander. Fortunately, I worked the back side first, but soon realized that the table is made of veneer plywood, with the edges banded with precious thin veneer (the wood does not appear to be teak - probably mahogany). It does not take much to go through the veneer with 80 grit sandpaper on a power sander. Doubtless the glue attaching the banding is less than perfect after 20+ years.
My advice to those contemplating a re-finish job: Use a chemical stripper first to remove as much varnish and residue as possible. Then, proceed with sanding, probably with nothing coarser than 120 grit. I managed to get the table to bare wood without going through the veneer, but it was nerve-racking.
Pity the table isn't solid teak. I'll be measuring the (refinished) original before putting it back on the boat so I can start building one from solid stock in my spare (joke) time.
Fair Winds,
Kevin LeMans
CD30 Raconteur
San Francisco
lemans@gte.net
Refinishing Cabin Tables - Careful!
Moderator: Jim Walsh