How to Fix a Desk Surface
- 1). Sand the top of the desk with 80-grit sandpaper attached to a hand block. Sand parallel to the grain with short strokes back and forth 3 inches forward and 2 inches back. Sand in one area until the lacquer is completely gone and bare wood shows through. Move to another area and repeat until the top of the desk has no lacquer left on it. It's okay to leave the stain.
- 2). Sand the top of the desk with 100-grit sandpaper parallel to the grain until the top feels consistently smooth when you run your bare hand over it.
- 3). Dip a cotton cloth into an open can of stain that matches the remaining stain on the desk. Liberally wipe the desk top with the stain until it has a wet look. Immediately wipe the stain off with a dry cotton cloth. Let the stain dry for 30 minutes.
- 4). Spray the top of the desk with medium gloss aerosol lacquer. Hold the can 8 inches from the top of the desk at a 30-degree angle. Spray parallel to the grain across the desk top in bands that overlap each other by 1-inch until the desk top has an even, wet look. Let the lacquer dry for 1 hour.
- 5). Sand the top of the desk by hand with a folded piece of 180-grit sandpaper. Sand in any direction lightly until the top of the desk has an even coat of light, white powder. This is lacquer dust that aids in curing subsequent coats, do not wipe it off.
- 6). Spray another coat of lacquer on the desk surface, repeating Step 4. Let the lacquer cure for 24 hours before using the desk.
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