Hey everyone! I have a light-colored birch kitchen countertop from Ikea that I'm planning to repurpose as a desk. I want to treat the wood so it stays light and doesn't get darker, while also making the surface smoother instead of rough. Since I'm just starting out and have no prior experience, I'd love any tips or advice you can share!
2 Answers
To achieve a smooth finish, start by sanding down the original surface with 80 grit sandpaper, then progress to 180 grit. After that, apply a coat of water-based acrylic clear varnish using a brush—skip the cheap stuff! Once it's dry, lightly hand sand with 240 grit paper. Apply a second coat and do another quick, light sand. Finish off with a final coat, and you should have a really smooth surface!
This method sounds way easier than using epoxy! And you’re right about the water-based finish; it won't yellow like oil-based ones.
I noticed that your countertop already has a finish. Are you mainly looking to make it smoother?
Yes, I’m hoping to treat it so it's smoother—can that be done?
Thank you!