I purchased the Salvaged Wood Trestle Table from Restoration Hardware in salvaged grey. I read so many reviews and suggestions before finally deciding to purchase, as I was nervous about it not being sealed. I have a coffee table from RH and I know what a spill can do to the finish. I didn't want to go through that again. I was going to use the MM Dead Flat product as I saw where several people had success with it. I called the company just to be sure it was the right choice and they told me they get calls everyday of projects that have gone wrong using their varnish directly on wood...that is not how it is to be used. So, I decided to use the General Finish products. I sealed our table with 2 coats of High Performance water based poly from General Finishes. I read where the HP poly was a much more durable sealant than the Flat Out Flat so I used it first. This left a slight sheen because it is a satin finish. I then topped it with 2 coats of Flat Out Flat also by GF to take the sheen away. We are so pleased with how it turned out and did not lose the 'powder finish' that RH puts on their wood furniture. I tested on the underneath side of a table leaf before tackling the table just to make sure it was the look and protection I wanted. I left a glass filled with ice on it all night. This melted of course and left a puddle of water on the wood. There was absolutely no penetration of the water into the wood. Good Luck.
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advice on restoration hardware table finish
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