Oil based polyurethane wood sealant

[DC Concours]

Hi guys,

My mom's got a 30 yr old kitchen table and she loves it. The clear coat sealer is coming off.

I sanded it down and used oil based Varathane clear sealer on it. Do I need to sand it down before I put a second coat? On the internets some say so, others not. The HD person said no need.

Any recommendations?

[Boomer]

If you are putting the 2nd coat on after a few hours then no need to sand it.
If you wait a few days for the 1st coat to fully harden, then you will need to sand it lightly to provide a key for the 2nd coat to stick to.

[DC Concours]

Boomer, I followed your specs. I waited about week and sanded it lightly, recoated it and then waited another few days, sanded and recoated it again. Put it in the sun to dry for an afternoon. Hopefully that didn't do any damage. But boy did it come out nice. Better than new.

It took 3 weeks thereafter to completely harden. I tested by tapping a spoon's edge to see if it left a dent. It did for about 2 weeks. Now it is sealed and will easily last 30 more years.

Thank you for your directions.

If you are putting the 2nd coat on after a few hours then no need to sand it.
If you wait a few days for the 1st coat to fully harden, then you will need to sand it lightly to provide a key for the 2nd coat to stick to.

[Boomer]

Glad it worked for ya.
I did it on my home made outdoor table after it had weathered in nicely.
Now it is fully preserved with a nice patina.