Quick Fix: two binned MCM teak tables, back to life in 10 minutes

I picked up a little gem this week. Actually two of them: a pair of mid-century teak tables that someone had thrown away, simply because the tops had a bit of surface wear. They're not junk. And most importantly, they're not veneer.That's the first thing to check on any MCM piece. Give the top a knock and listen. Solid timber sounds solid. If it's solid, a worn finish is a ten-minute job, not a write-off.What's in it: The tap test. How I check solid teak versus veneer before I spend a minute on it. 240 grit, orbital sander, about five minutes a table. Just enough to take the old varnish off. I've sped this bit up because you already know how to sand. Don't panic at the colour. Halfway through it looks patchy. That's normal. Get rid of the grey-white layer. That cloudy residue is the old finish. Make sure every bit of it is gone, because anything you put over it will look rubbish. Finish at 320 grit. I swapped pads partway through to get it nice and smooth. One coat of linseed oil on a microfibre cloth. Freshly sanded teak looks dull and pale. Oil brings back that rich colour straight away. Never drip oil straight onto the timber. It can soak in fast and leave a circle or white mark that's almost impossible to get out. Always load the rag, then move quickly across the surface. (You'll see me nearly do exactly that.) Ten minutes' work, two beautiful solid teak pieces saved from the tip, using stuff you've already got in the workshop. Worth your time every time.Found something in the bin or on the side of the road that just needs a quick fix? Tell me below, or send it through the request-a-topic form on the feed.

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