This is a table I bought at a garage sale for $25. I wanted an outdoor table and couldn't find one I liked for the price, so I figured I would just redo this one. It was in a lot better shape when I bought it, but it spent a summer outside on our patio before I got around to putting outdoor stain on it.
We took it apart, stripped it, sanded it, stained it, did it wrong (left way too much stain on so it was gummy), stripped it again, sanded it again, stained it properly (with deck, fence and furniture stain, wiping off the excess), tried a second coat that wouldn't stick (waterproofing maybe?) and then Jess' parents came and Grandma put two coats of the outdoor version of varathane on it.
It was a lot of work, and maybe cost equivalent to buying a table already outdoor ready, but it looks good, right? Our first meal outside. I love it!
This is a table I bought at a garage sale for $25. I wanted an outdoor table and couldn't find one I liked for the price, so I figured I would just redo this one. It was in a lot better shape when I bought it, but it spent a summer outside on our patio before I got around to putting outdoor stain on it. 
We took it apart, stripped it, sanded it, stained it, did it wrong (left way too much stain on so it was gummy), stripped it again, sanded it again, stained it properly (with deck, fence and furniture stain, wiping off the excess), tried a second coat that wouldn't stick (waterproofing maybe?) and then Jess' parents came and Grandma put two coats of the outdoor version of varathane on it.
It was a lot of work, and maybe cost equivalent to buying a table already outdoor ready, but it looks good, right? Our first meal outside. I love it!
