Some Quick Tips on How to Refinish a Shuffleboard Table

If you have ever wondered how to refinish a shuffleboard table, there are a few things you need to consider.   One of the most important things is to make sure you have the necessary information about the finish on your table's playing surface before refurbishing. Shuffleboard tables can be finished using lacquer, varnish, acrylic, and polyurethane, among other applications.

Not a do-it-yourself repair shown here above. The main consideration when preparing the surface is to use a conservative approach rather than an aggressive one. Using finer-grit sandpaper and an oscillating sander, and gently going over the entire surface using long, consistent strokes, will go a long way in keeping your surface level and in good playing condition.

Allowing the table to deteriorate and wear past the finish and into the wood not only makes the repair more difficult but could cause irreparable harm to your investment. To properly repair a surface like the one shown below would require a professional sanding machine and a professional wood shop for the proper equipment. 

   Once you have removed enough of the finish so that the playing surface is smooth and flat, you must determine how to refinish the shuffleboard table if the markings need to be restored. This would be the case if your table needed to be sanded to the extent that material beyond the finish needs to be removed to get the playing surface flat, and the markings were obliterated by the sanding process. This is not an ideal scenario, but in some instances it cannot be avoided.

    Once you have remarked your table, you can begin reapplying the finish. For a do-it-yourself homeowner, you are probably best to use a polyurethane varnish you can roll or brush on. It will require a lot of sanding to get smooth between coats. The better alternative is to use a spray gun and a professional paint booth to apply the finish with industrial-grade, hardened finish material. Polymer-poured bar top epoxy, two-part, is also a solution. Still, one thing to keep in mind is a lot of different chemicals don't bond well together so make sure the base coat material you use is compatible with the epoxy poured resin and hardener in the polymer. It is best to check with the local paint finish store or Polymer supplier about the chemical incompatibilities. The following are just a few suggestions for refinishing a shuffleboard table. Still, if you are anything less than 100% confident in your abilities, we suggest using a professional you trust. We will be updating with more detailed how-to tips for finishing a shuffleboard in the near future. Check back here for updates.