What to Do When the Top Layer of a Wood Table is Cracked and Peeling

One of the fantastic things about wood folding tables is the ability to refurbish the top layer should there be any issues after the continual wear and tear of renting them out. We have been asked on occasion what to do when the top layer of a wood table is cracked and peeling. This blog post will give you two suggestions of potential solutions to this question.

The first thing I would suggest you do is check the thickness of your wood table and the depth of your cracks. Ensuring you have at least 1/2 inch + of thickness with your table will protect you from the tabletop being unable to support weight when in use.

Suggestion 1:

If you plan to use the wood table without table linens or the tables are too thin, unfortunately you should start thinking about table replacement instead of repair.

Suggestion 2:

If you plan to use the wood table with table linens and have at least 1/2 inch + of thickness available you can refinish the table to get rid of the cracks / peeling. To do this I would recommend the following steps:

1. Remove tabletop from table legs and use saw horses to prop the tabletop up.
2. Using a paint scraper, scrape all the peeling areas free of the excess varnish.
3. Examine the cracks and determine if they’re shallow enough to sand out or if they need to be filled with a wood filler.
4. If the cracks need to be filled, get a wood filler that doesn’t shrink after drying and overfill the cracks to ensure the crack is completely filled.
5. Using a handheld or electric sander, start with a coarse grained sandpaper (120 grit) moving to 150 grit and 180 grit for the smoothest finish. You want to be sanding just enough with each to remove the scratches of the previous grit. The reason for moving from a coarser grit to a smoother grit is the coarser sand paper will make it easier to cut through and remove problem areas (such as cracks and peeling) while the smoother grit finishes off the wood to a smooth finish.
6. Once the wood table top has been sanded to your satisfaction, finish off the table top with a clear varnish to protect the wood, reattach the table legs and you’re good to go!