What kind of top coat is best at finishing a dining table?

by Martinigal

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After many mistakes, my first attempt at Chalk Painting my little dinette table is almost done. What I need now is advice on what sort of top coat would work best on a table that needs the protection of what most eating tables endure. IE: moving plates across it.

9 answers

Beth H. Makemeprettyagain.blogspot on Apr 26, 2015
You can coat CP with any top coat. Be aware that Poly will yellow over time. I like General Finishes Arm r Seal Urethane. Comes in satin,semigloss and gloss. Get the wipe on kind. No brush marks. Give it about 4 coats, sanding very lightly with a 320-400 grit sand paper in between coats. Super durable. You can order it from Amazon.

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- Martinigal on Apr 26, 2015
  @Beth H. Makemeprettyagain.blogspot Thanks so much! So you just wipe it on with a cloth? I'll check it out on Amazon.
  
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- Beth H. Makemeprettyagain.blogspot on Apr 26, 2015
  @Martinigal yes. Make sure you get the one I gave u the name of if you want to wipe it on. GF has others, similar, that you can brush on too. For a table, I would actually give it at least 5 coats. If you want another choice, you can use Deft brush on acrylic finish topcoat. I would use a satin sheen. Deft is a very good brand and goes on easily.
  
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- Martinigal on Apr 27, 2015
  @Beth H. Makemeprettyagain.blogspot I just check out the General Finishes website. On Amazon it got amazing reviews. It just seems that if you wiped it on with a cloth it wouldn't go on evenly. I'm such a newbie at all of this. They did say you could use a foam brush, that I can imagine. Than you so much for your help. Wow, those are amazing pieces! Some day I'll get better at this.....I love it, used to do lots of decorating, but now I can't due to injuries, so I started working with furniture. I'll be ordering the Arm r Seal from Amazon. I have to find that 400 grit sand paper too!
  
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- Beth H. Makemeprettyagain.blogspot on Apr 27, 2015
  @Martinigal u can use a 320,,,or even steel wool...a very fine, 000 steel wool. Just be very light with it. You aren't trying to remove the finish, just smooth it down. Feel with your hands. They will tell you if it feels smooth. Make sure you wipe up all the dust with a lint free cloth before doing your next coat. And put your coats on right before bed, that way people aren't moving around the table and kicking up dust!
  
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- Martinigal on Apr 27, 2015
  @Beth H. Makemeprettyagain.blogspot Thanks so much Beth! I'm hoping that I can get some additional paint so I can fix my mistakes. Then I can go forward with the finish. I'm also going to stencil on top of the CP. I'm anxious to finish, but I have some physical issues so I can only work on it when I'm doing okay. So I think I need to take an attitude of it's an ongoing project and stop looking toward the finish line. It's the doing that's the fun part anyway, right? :-)
  
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- Beth H. Makemeprettyagain.blogspot on Apr 28, 2015
  @Martinigal Oh absolutely Beth. I have my days when I don't feel up to par. Stenciling can take some time. So if you have to spread it out, then do it. There's really no rush.
  
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Gail Salminen on Apr 26, 2015
@Martinigal I have always found that poly works best - have used for years. I usually use the sating finish and put several coats on with light sanding with steel wool between coats and of course wiping down before applying next coat. Depending on the use of the piece determines the number of coats - high use translates into more coats. I have never had a problem with yellowing, even with light coloured stains.

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- Martinigal on Apr 26, 2015
  @Gail Salminen Thanks so much for your response! I used a gold tone base with red over it, then distressed it. so the piece is not typical of chalk paint. I appreciate the information!
  
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Sherrie on Apr 27, 2015
I use water base polyurethane not oil base. Oil base will yellow. But I do several costs of poly and the jey is curing time. 30 days.

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- Martinigal on Apr 28, 2015
  @Sherrie How many coats do you use?, do you sand between coats? So the table shouldn't be used for 30 days? Thanks so much!
  
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- Sherrie on Apr 28, 2015
  I use two coats. I always stir slowly it will leave bubbles on the top of the furniture if you shake it. The first coat I go from end to end. Let dry, then sand with a high grand finishing sand paper, or steel wool, or my favorite a greenie...those scrubbies that you use for dishes. Wipe off dust reapply. 30 days curing time. It doesn't mean you can't use it. But curing times is important. Paint takes 30 days, including the famous chalk paint. Wax takes 30 days if it is AS wax, some waxes take over 60 days to cure. Everything has a curing time. Yes most of the time you can use it but if this is a kitchen table I would recommend the curing time. Just because is important for heavily used furniture.
  
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- Martinigal on Apr 29, 2015
  @Sherrie Thank you for all of your great advice. This is the first time I've chalk painted something and I made a mistake, a big one. I'm wondering, now that it's "primed" with chalk paint if I can just use latex paint. What do you think? It's so much less expensive and the color choices are vast. I've also seen recipes for making Chalk paint.
  
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- Sherrie on Apr 29, 2015
  It is expensive isn't it? Chalk paint is about texture so I am wondering if you want to paint over the top because it is thick and to much? I am asking you because if you put paint over it you will have the exact same problem. You will see texture on the second coat because the first coat isn't smooth. Let me know so I can tell you the best way I would fix it. But to answer your question yes. I don't see why not. but if your painting over it because of the texture let me know. So we can come up with a fix.
  
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- Martinigal on May 04, 2015
  @Sherrie Thanks so much! I'm sorry I didn't see this. I found this product on amazon which changes latex paint to chalk paint. I know there are a lot of different recipes for chalk paint, but this seemed to be the best choice for me. Now I'm looking at paint samples and will have to start all over, painting over the chalk paint with chalk paint which is supposed to be okay. Then I will stencil. While on with Amazon I purchased a HP Polyurethane satin finish topcoat from General Finishes. I hope this all works!
  
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- Sherrie on May 05, 2015
  Honestly you could have used any paint. I use plain flat paint. And then seal it. using texture in a large flat surface is very hard, and very hard to get it right. Flat paint is easier. Or any kind of paint. The trick to getting a smooth surface with any paint is your paint strokes. My secret to getting a smooth finish is water. Whether it is chalk paint or any paint. But especially with chalk paint. I paint a line, tip my brush in water and rebrush that area. End to end. I do this all the way across. Chalk paint is about creating texture. And texture on a large flat surface is uneven and looks funny if it isn't done right. I like leaving table tops stained. But everyone likes them painted so I now paint them. But remember you can use water to smooth it out. I know it is frustrating. But no matter what anything can be fixed. If you need any help figuring it out let me know. My first table I stripped 6 times and still didn't get it right. Until I learned about water. : )
  
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- Martinigal on May 05, 2015
  @Sherrie Actually it was water that caused the mess up, but it was a lot of water. A lot of water and sand paper with too low of a grit count. I think I used 100 sand paper to distress and it just tore a whole in the paint which was so ugly, so I tried to repaint and had to thin out the top paint coat which ended up being "ashy" and dried so differently. Anyway, I think I have it under control now. I'm going to get a very high count sand paper to use between layers of top coat and I'll have every thing I need to start over. Everyone encouraged me to just paint over if I made a mistake so I'm going to do that. Photos will be posted if anyone is interested in seeing the final product. It's not typical light colored chalk painting, the colors are bold. I have a vision, but it may not be everyone's taste. I'm okay with that :-)!
  
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- Cheryl McGehee on May 25, 2018
  
  Would like to see a pic when done. Ty
  
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- Sherrie on May 26, 2018
  
  I always use two coats sand in between or use a greenie Or use steel wool.
  
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Sahoma on Apr 28, 2015
I was a wax coating. I touch it up 1-2 years. I like seeing my finished product. The wax protects against stains, spills and sliding plates. I also teach my kids, now adults to use a mat under their plates.

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- Martinigal on Apr 28, 2015
  @Sahoma Thanks Sahoma! How difficult is it to apply the wax? I have Fibromyalgia and just painting the table has been painful. Is it hard on the muscles/joints?
  
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Sahoma on Apr 29, 2015
Wax is easy going on, but you have to let it dry a bit, then you take a soft rage and buff it out. It does take a little elbow grease. But I don't think it is anymore difficult than painting. In fact you can apply the wax, let it day, and buff out in sections. Rest as you go.

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- Martinigal on Apr 29, 2015
  @Sahoma Thanks! And yes, I must rest as I go! :-)
  
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Beth H. Makemeprettyagain.blogspot on May 04, 2015
Do not use a wax top coat on a table that you will be eating or drinking on. Wax is the worst when it comes to water marks. It is not the least bit protective. Go with the acrylic topcoats I gave you pics of. They are easy to brush on or wipe on.

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- Martinigal on May 04, 2015
  @Beth H. Makemeprettyagain.blogspot Thanks Beth! I purchased a General Finishes Polyurethane top coat so I think I am all set. Now I just have to start over, learning from my mistakes and I'm going to have to take my time. When it's done I promise to post photos. Thanks again for all of your help!
  
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Beth H. Makemeprettyagain.blogspot on May 04, 2015
Oh good! If I can assist in any way, shoot me a message. You should be fine. Did you get the wipe on or the brush on?? Oil based ?? Or did you get the Arm r Seal?

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- Martinigal on May 04, 2015
  @Beth H. Makemeprettyagain.blogspot Thanks so much! I might just take advantage of your kind offer. I know it was general finishes, but I'm not sure about Arm r Seal. I'll check it out and get back to you tomorrow. I'm exhausted today :-(
  
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- Martinigal on May 05, 2015
  @Beth H. Makemeprettyagain.blogspot Hi Beth. No it is not Arm r Seal. It is High Performance water based top coat. https://generalfinishes.com/retail-products/water-base-top-coats-sanding-sealers . Very highly rated. Apply with foam sponge brush or a paint pad applicator. I'm just so anxious to get started. Waiting for Dover's Chalk Paint Mix, great reviews and much easier than some recipes I've found for making chalk paint. Picked my colors so will mix paint, repaint with new knowledge. Stencil then will let cure for 2 weeks before i topcoat. Will definitely sand between coats as you advised and will apply 2 to 3 coats. Let it cure again and finally hope to have what my vision was. I've also ordered 2 planters, wrought iron which hang over my patio railing. Nice and big (36" each). Have everything I need except the flowers, My patio is in the shade and am looking for some beautiful shade loving plants. Need to take a trip in SF to get what I want After all of that I start on finding a old fashioned desk on Craig's List or at thrift store to organize my bedroom and then I'll be set for awhile. Oops forgot my T.V. stand. Needs updating very badly! So many projects, such a bad back and Fibromyalgia so I have to go slow. More injections into my spine in a couple of weeks. Who knows when I'll finish, but like I said before I have to look at it as a journey and not a destination. Enjoy the process and don't be so quick to want the project finished. If I don't take on that attitude I'd just give up! Whew, long post, sorry if this is TMI. I can get chatty :-)
  
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Sherrie on May 05, 2015
It will. I always seal my tops with poly. Show us your work when your finished!

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- Martinigal on May 05, 2015
  @Sherrie Thanks, I just got a digital camera so I definitely will post photos even if it's just for you and @Beth H. Makemeprettyagain.blogspot :-)!
  
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- Sama Cassab on Sep 07, 2018
  
  Im doing my table which is laminate top, not sure if i should use complete primer, paint and top coat of water or oil base. i use my table for food preparation and even cut over my kitchen table.
  Is it ok to put water base paint then cover with oil top coat? Can we mix?
  Im new to painting so excuse my ignorance
  
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- Sherrie on Sep 07, 2018
  
  sand to rough it up and I also use a primer it isn’t hard and they have water base. The key for you will be sealing it. When you seal it that will protect the paint. If you are painting white don’t use a oil base use a water base. Oil will yellow. J would do at least 3 costs. Great luck!
  
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Sherrie on May 26, 2018

water base

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