What to use to prevent scratches on wood table top

fdf

I hope this is an OK place to post my question... we just got a new kitchen table and chairs, also a bench included...it's one of those 'farm house' tables... everything is white but the chair seats & table top...that is solid wood that looks like butcher block. I can see a little of a sheen on the chairs & bench tops, but I can't see any type of sheen at all on the table top, although I assume it had some sort of a 'finish' applied at the factory....it feels very smooth to the touch.

Anyway, I want to protect the table top from scratches and I'm not sure what to use...

any help would be appreciated

PS...if what ever I need to use to prevent scratches darkens the wood a little bit, that's OK...and the wood is Oak .

ddawg16

If you have kids....'resistance if futile'.......

Table cloth.....table pad....

Otherwise, live with it...and learn to strip and refinish wood....like you car, it will get scratches.

__________________
Common Sense is like Deodorant. Those that need it the most don't use it.
My
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
...
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
and
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

sdsester

It is hard to say what the factory put on it but it was likely a fairly thin layer of laquer or varnish. Anyway you can ask where you bought it or look it up online?

For greater protection you might think about applying a coat or two of clear polyurethane. The waterbased polycrylic may be less prone to darken or yellow but you may see water rings, that will go away when they dry out, if you set a sweating glass on the surface. Moving to more extreme coatings, you could put something like an epoxy bar or restaurant table/counter top product on it. Resins can chip and fissure crack if you drop things on them.

Having a piece of glass cut and polished to fit is a rather radical approach but I will mention it as an option. You can certainly scratch the glass too!

In both cases you can still scratch the finish but at least the wood should be spared. You can get poly in various sheens. You can alway polish out the scratches in the finish or recoat.

Obviously key to protecting the surface is doing your best to keep things that will scratch it away from it. Vacuum dust before wiping it if you live in a sandy air area. Buy something like felt pads/buttons to put on the bottoms of things like candlesticks, centerpieces, etc. Use placemats you like to minimize wear and scratching from dishware (make sure you do not trap particles that can scratch between the placemats and table surface) and serving pieces. Kids toys, like those missing wheels, are notorious for scratching table tops. Clawed dogs and cats that visit tabletops are not so good (for lots of reasons). Of course table pads under table cloths have been used on fine dining tables for ages.

Try not to be so paranoid about minor scratches and wear you are afraid to use the table set.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

DrHicks

You need to determine exactly what you have for a finish on your table top. If it's a butcher block top, you'll need to "oil" it regularly with a product such as this.

http://www.howardproducts.com/prod-b...ck-cutting.php

gregzoll

If it is real wood, polish it, then do as your grandparents would do, lay a table cloth over the top. As for the seats, cushions. In reality, there is nothing you can do to keep it from getting scratched.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
: Now listen, Cadet. I've got a job for you. See this button?
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
: Don't touch it! It's the History Eraser button, you fool!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
: So what'll happen?
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
: That's just it. We don't know. Maybe something bad, maybe something good. I guess we'll never know, 'cause you're going to guard it. You won't touch it, will you?

fdf

Thank you all for your replies. No kids in the house, and the dogs sure won't get up there, or the cat...I hate table clothes, why get a nice wood table and cover it up?

I guess we'll just need to be a little careful with it...it does have some kind of finish from the factory, as I mentioned, I agree, probably sprayed with a light coat of something...I guess I can get in touch with the manufacturer for some advice, other wise, just be careful...
just thought I'd give it a shot by asking... may look into the extreme coatings that bars use...

Thanks!!

ddawg16

fdf...that last bit of info helps. I can understand the issue with table clothes.....

Place mats.....that will take care of the majority of issues.

__________________
Common Sense is like Deodorant. Those that need it the most don't use it.
My
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
...
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
and
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Canarywood1

"Thank you all for your replies. No kids in the house, and the dogs sure won't get up there, or the cat...I hate table clothes, why get a nice wood table and cover it up? "



And if you think the cat won't get up there,think again.

gregzoll

It is called Polyurethane. Just wax it, but as for covering with a tablecloth, nothing wrong with that to protect it. If you want it to look showroom new, suggestion is not to use it, keep boxed up. Nothing you can do to keep it brand new, when it is used all of the time.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
: Now listen, Cadet. I've got a job for you. See this button?
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
: Don't touch it! It's the History Eraser button, you fool!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
: So what'll happen?
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
: That's just it. We don't know. Maybe something bad, maybe something good. I guess we'll never know, 'cause you're going to guard it. You won't touch it, will you?

fdf

That's an idea....thanks!!

fdf

Beleive me, the cat won't get on the table...I've had her for nearly 17 years....know her very well and have no doubt she won't get up there

fdf

Keep it boxed up...funny

I certainly realize it won't stay new forever...just wanting to help it stay nice...

gregzoll

Wax & dust it weekly, use a tablecloth and place mats when you do use it for meals, and do not trust the cat. They will get up on stuff like tables.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
: Now listen, Cadet. I've got a job for you. See this button?
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
: Don't touch it! It's the History Eraser button, you fool!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
: So what'll happen?
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
: That's just it. We don't know. Maybe something bad, maybe something good. I guess we'll never know, 'cause you're going to guard it. You won't touch it, will you?

fdf

Needless to say, I'd keep the top clean...I think I'll look into a good poly in a matte finish, the finish from the factory is a joke, I got to do something...and I plan on getting some placemats.

I do trust the cat ...I've had cats (and dogs) all my life and none of the cats ever got on top of a kitchen table...ever!! You can train cats to learn basic things

ddawg16

You haven't met our cat.....she is training us.....drinks out of the bathroom sink....jumps up and sits on your shoulders.....no shelf is safe in the house....if I'm up on the ladder...she climbs the ladder with me....

__________________
Common Sense is like Deodorant. Those that need it the most don't use it.
My
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
...
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
and
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.