How do I finish our dining room table?
![Erena](https://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/resources/imgs-responsive/avatar-letters/avatar-E-FF9646.png?size=91x91)
![](https://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/media/profile/2018/03/12/15259073_6.jpg?size=50x50)
![](https://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/media/profile/2017/02/02/9801886_9.jpg?size=50x50)
![](https://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/media/profile/2017/08/15/21161541_3.jpg?size=50x50)
I want to redo my dining room table. After I stain it, what is the best finish to put on? Oil or water base and what sheen?
Related Discussions
Should I paint or stain my oak kitchen cabinets?
![Lauren of Mom Home Guide](https://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/media/profile/2019/03/24/161201_3.jpg?size=50x50)
I was wondering if you could help me with something -- I have an entirely oak kitchen. I know it's the rage now to paint or gel stain cabinets. I've been considering ... See more
How to paint a metal front door?
![Ginny Wathen](https://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/media/profile/2016/11/05/14292662_1.jpg?size=50x50)
How do I paint my front door? It's metal.
How to paint grout?
![Ann7680670](https://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/resources/imgs-responsive/avatar-letters/avatar-A-BC70FF.png?size=50x50)
How do I paint grout to change the color? The grout is in great shape, but the color - meh.
How to whitewash a brick fireplace?
![Chris jenne](https://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/resources/imgs-responsive/avatar-letters/avatar-C-FF8282.png?size=50x50)
What is the best method to whitewash bricks surrounding a fireplace?
Need to update an old oak dining table
![Ljp1860365](https://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/resources/imgs-responsive/avatar-letters/avatar-L-69E0FF.png?size=50x50)
Very old table, it was my Moms with many leaves to it. My daughter will take but wants to update it.
How can I repaint/refurbish peeling bonded leather dining chairs?
![Christine Diaz Farrell](https://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/media/profile/2016/02/17/4649802_2.jpg?size=50x50)
They are parson type dining room chairs that are infrequently used. All of a sudden, they seem to be peeling and cracking. HELP!!!
Satin always looks best for sheen....gloss looks to plastic and screams cheap. I personally like water based for cleanup and odor reasons and it dries faster a good thing if you have pet hair flying around... Polyacryllic has worked well for me before. I used several coats of satin on an old dining table that I refinished and sold it for more than I bought it for. :)
the sheen is a personal choice, I like the 'semi-gloss'; and for a surface that gets a LOT of use I'd go with an oil base, but if it's a formal table and only used for holidays I'd opt for water base. Be sure to select a type that is 'NON-YELLOWING' -- the staff at a well supplied home improvement center can advise you
Oil based is going to hold up better than waterbased. I've heard amazing things about General Finishes Enduro Var for dining tables! They also say that the higher the sheen, the more durable it is. So I wouldn't do anything less than a satin sheen.
I refinished mine using this method: https://rootsandwingsfurniture.com/blog/kitchentablemakeover/ I'd recommend General Finishes Arm R Seal. It's an oil based finish that hold up beautifully!