Advice needed for refinishing cypress table

JDoubleH

Hi all- Looking for general advice for refinishing a custom cypress table that my large bge sits in. I plan on using an orbital sander and finishing with epifanes, but I’d really appreciate help on the process. What grit sand paper to start with, finish with, # of coats, to sand or not between coats, etc. Thanks in advance! 

Woodchunk

I would power wash with some soap, dry, and sand with 150 and then do this making the first coat the 50/50 mixture And then several coats of the 70/30 mixture. In stead of wiping off I allow the 70/30 to dry 24hrs and sand and then next coat. After several coats it will look like glass on your table.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFG4iyZkS5k

JDoubleH

Great advice, thanks! 

epcotisbest

A good coat of Olympic Deck Cleaner, applied with a garden sprayer, prior to pressure washing, will do wonders. I am amazed by the stuff, though I suspect it is mostly bleach. Once cleaned, I would start out with a medium grit sand paper, then a fine grit, then stain and finish. @Woodchunk offers good advice.

Fredb

IMHO I would be leary of power washing as it can remove the softer wood between the gain. Depending on how scared or abused the surface is, I would start with a dual action sander with 120 grit sander and work my way up thru 180 and end at 220. Tack off and apply 50/50 coat of Epifanes and let absorb in and dry. It is important (to me) to use Epifanes thinner. Lightly hand sand with 220,tack and apply additional coats of their UV varnish. This should put you in good stead. Good luck.

Woody

Agree you should not use a power washer.  This can also close up the grain so it does not absorb the oil as well.
I use a mix of 3 parts water to 1 part bleach (requires 1 gallon bleach to do my deck so maybe a quart for your table) and add a teaspoonful of dish washing.  Spray down with hose to further clean.
I do this every three years and restain with Ready Seal and my deck is 20 years old still looking good.

nolaegghead

Wash it well with a scrub brush/abrasive pad.  You want to remove any dirt that can get embedded with sanding.

Then sand with a course grit, maybe 40.  You want to use a good sander or you can spend a lot of time removing material.  The goal here is to remove enough to have virgin wood (heh...heh heh).  Belt sander, rotary, DA.  Borrow one or buy one if you don't have something that delivers at least 8 Amps of energy.

So after you do you bulk wood removal, all the sanding you do is to remove the damage that 40 (or whatever) grit has done to the wood.  So 80grit, then 120 grit.  And finish.

Woodchunk

It's really simple with the proper tip
https://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/how-to-prevent-pressure-washer-wood-damage/

nolaegghead

Cypress is very soft.  Personally, I would not use a pressure washer on it if it's something that you want to put a furniture grade finish on.  My table is going on 6 years and still looks good, despite being outside on the weather, with it's original finish.  It gets soaked every time it rains.  It will need a new finish in the near future.  Will post a pic, need to run out and take one.

nolaegghead

JDoubleH

Thanks for all the advice. So I’ve now heard 50/50 epifanes and thinner several times. Are we saying that I should simply cut the first coat 50/50, but additional coats should be the real stuff? Same product? Thanks again.