Table protection for Freedom (yes i Know) table

[Runningman]

Hi guys,
Probably not the right place to ask the advice of you experts, since I didnt actually make this table, but since its the Finishes forum, hopefully the wisdom of the forum could help.

My wife recently bought aFreedom table, its made in Vietnam, its very light wood, and is finished in that grey-whitish paint that exposes the grain. I can post pic if required.

As we have a 2 year old and a 4month old, I dont want them to embed crayon, textar, etc etc into the table and then make it look grubby when the stuff gets into the grain, so...can you please suggest a surface protection?

Ive already outted wax, but perhaps just an oil or varnish would be best? Would prefer not to darken the timber, but I guess most finishes will darken it some degree.

Thanks again, and sorry for insulting you guys with a Freedom table question. I dont get enough shed time to make my own table, now with the 2 kids (and complaining neighbour about noise after 7pm ...grrrr)
Cheers

[Master Splinter]

Best solution (as any finish on top of the existing one may darken/degrade the existing one over time) is to buy a few meters of soft, clear PVC sheet (its sold specifically for tables, in fact) and put that over it. Waterproof, crayon proof etc etc etc. Should be able to find it in Bunnies or other large hardware places, or Clark Rubber.

[Runningman]

Thanks Master Splinter for the reply. I had considered clear plastic, AND offered it to the Boss as a solution, but she was dead against it. She doesnt want plastic on it. go figure!

Any other suggestions?

Once again, very much appreciative of any reply.
Cheers

[Sir Stinkalot]

Glass would be another alternative but at around $500 or so it would be cheaper to buy again.

You mentioned the grooves from the grain. How deep would they be? You could go a standard polyurethane (estapol) but it may have trouble keying into the existing finish depending on what that is.

[rustynail]

Not knowing what the existing finish is makes it a bit hard to come up with the right answer. Lacquer would probably be ok. Is there somewhere, like under side, you could try a bit to see if it keys to the existing?

[Runningman]

Sir Stinkalot,
glass is definitely a good idea, but we just got rid of the table that had the glass top, too much chance of breakage with the kids. After all, I broke the first pane of glass leaning my elbows on it whilst looking at a map! So glass is out also.

Current finish is hard to tell, I would say perhaps a very very light oil of some sort. Grain grooves are very minute, although if you dragged crayon across them, some would get imbedded in the grain.

Rustynail,
yes, the whole table, top, bottom, underside, legs is the same timber and same finish, so most definitley testing first on teh underside would be my first port of call.

Ta.

[The Bleeder]

Runningman,

Don't bother. Leave the table as is. Kids eventually grow up. When that happens replace the table......it's only from Freedom. Whatever you think and others thinks ...kids are one step ahead of you.

Start planning your new table now and make it youself.

Other than that use a good wax and most and I mean most of what they do will come off (scratches/gouges excluded).

Periodically clean the table and re-wax it. You'll learn with kids.

[tea lady]

If its a freedom table its prolly lacquer anyway! Trad wax over that might be good cos crayons and textas prolly won't stick. So they will go for the walls instead!

(Will freedom tell you what the finish is? )

[Runningman]

Thanks for all the replies guys (and gals!). I think we will probably have to go with the wax.

Can any recommend a good wax and where to get it from (im in Brisbane).

Cheers again.

[rustynail]

Danish wax. Most good paint suppliers. Just remember, you cant lacquer over it, but you can wax over lacquer.

[tea lady]

Trad wax from Ubeaut of course! (The forum host! )

Carba tech has it I think. Not sure about other places in Brissy.