Expert: Jamie Yocono - 10/26/2006

Question
Just bought a beautiful 10ft imported mahogany table it was suggested that I have it French Polished or give it a good waxing. Could I in fact just use a water base polyurethane to give it a good protective cover?
Look forward to hearing from you

Answer
Hi Pam,

That table sounds gorgeous!

If your beautiful new table has a finish on it already, then there's no reason to add another finish like French polish or varnish. In fact, I would recommend against it. You don't know what's on it already, and it's possible to put something on top of it that's incompatible with it.  

You definitely don't want to do that!

You can run into all sorts of problems when you apply two incompatible finishes, one on top of the other. Some potential problems can be clouding, blistering, or cracking. So unless you know precisely what's on it, you're best to leave it alone and protect it as it is.

What I mean by that is a good coat of wax, preferable paste wax. Johnson's paste wax is a great product, available at most home improvement centers. Rub it on with a soft cloth, and then wipe it away. If you let it sit too long, it's difficult to wipe off, start by doing small sections at a time. It really adds a wonderful sheen and smoothness to wood. And great protection.

That's all there is to it- wax is the wonder drug for most wooden pieces.  Use coasters or placemats, and touch the table up with wax once or twice a year. Your table should look gorgeous for a long, long time.

OK, good luck, I hope this helps. Please feel free to write back if you have any further questions after reading this.  And if this answer was helpful... please take a minute and rate my service. Thanks!

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com