April is Minwax National Woodworking Month®! To celebrate, Minwax® expert Bruce Johnson has put together some of his favorite tips & tricks for using Minwax® products. Don’t forget to download the Minwax National Woodworking Month® mail-in rebate form, you could save up to $17 on select Minwax® products.
Back in the 1990s, Leigh Ann had this glass-topped end table that has since become so dated in style that we had put it outside for Scooter’s cat food bowls. When she saw me prying some boards off an old pallet last week, Leigh Ann gave me the green light for an end table make-over.
I started by lifting off the heavy glass top, then cleaned and spray-painted the base a metallic bronze color. While it dried, I began laying out the pallet boards for a new top. Once I was pleased with the arrangement, I glued and clamped them together overnight.
Pallet boards are always rough, so sanding is necessary to eliminate splinters, rough edges, and uneven surfaces. But sanding also removes some of the character of the old boards, so I decided a light coat of stain would improve their appearance.
Knowing that the boards would absorb stain unevenly if left untreated, I first applied a liberal coat of Minwax® Water Based Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner to reduce any blotchiness when staining. 
Next, I brushed on a coat of “Slate” Minwax® Water Based Wood Stain. In this case, I only wanted a light coat of color, so I immediately took a rag and wiped off enough stain to reveal the grain of the wood. I purposely rubbed more stain off some places than others to imitate an “aged” look for my table top.
My last step was just as easy: two coats of clear Minwax® Polycrylic® Protective Finish. It, too, is water based and dries quickly, so I was able to condition, stain, and finish Leigh Ann’s “new” table in only one day. Now we just have to find another table for Scooter!
Until next time,
Thanks for stopping by!
Bruce
For more great tips and project ideas, visit our Pinterest page. Download the Minwax National Woodworking Month® mail-in rebate form here.
