Experience I have 25 years experience as a professional woodworker and cabinetmaker. I have a lot of experience in the design and fabrication of casework (built-ins, bookcases, entertainment centers) as well as free-standing furnishings including beds, tables, etc.
Publications Author: "Architectural Woodwork - Details for Construction" published by Van Nostrand Reinhold (now Wiley).
Question I have a butcher block table with great legs. Just had a granite (grey,black,white) table top made. I would like to use the legs from my butcher block table. The legs appear to be butcher block. It is a trestle design. I would like the trestles to be black. Would you stain? If so how? Or would you paint. My fear is whatever I do, it will "Chip" from people's feet. Any great ideas?
Thanks so much.
Answer Helene,
Feet/shoes can do quite a bit of damage to a trestle table, so I would recommend deep staining followed by tinted varnish.
Strip the wood using a chemical stripper such as "Stryp-Eze" . Follow mfrs. instructions, use hand and eye protection, and work outdoors if possible. Rinse with water, allow to dry, and sand with fine sandpaper.
Stain the wood with an penetrating ebony stain or wood dye. Use at least two coats and allow the stain to really penetrate. Follow this with 2-3 coats of polyurethane varnish that has been tinted black. Your paint shop can help with this. Alternatively you can use a black lacquer finish. These semi-solid finishes allow some wood graining to show. A straight paint job is too perfect and will show damage more readily.
If chipping or scratching does occur, the stain underneath will hide the defect. If the scratch is deep, just touch up with stain.
Best of luck and let me know if you have additional questions.
