Removing stain from oak table

[NeatandTidyTidyandNeat]

Custody of an old oak dining table has passed to me through the family. I like the shape, and have years decades of memories of extended family dinners round it. But it is wood-stained very dark brown and glossy. What is the easiest way to get it back to, er, oak coloured? Please tell me it's possible..?

[JT05]

It depends on whether it is solid or veneer. What is the age of the table?

If it is solid it is probably origionally French Polished. Do not use any harsh chemical stripper.

When I renovated a Victorian Walnut table, I used a mixture of turpentine and linseed oil to soften the polish and then with a rounded scraper to gently removed the polish. It took about 5 days to do, but worth it. Then I re French polished. Now a days you could probably get the technique from the Internet, I used a very old furniture book!

Having said that, I recently used a fine sander on a solid oak coffee table when I wanted a more rustic/ used look and it came up well.

If it is veneer then the job is quite difficult because any liquid or chemicals might lift the veneer. The same might happen with sanding.

[NeatandTidyTidyandNeat]

Solid oak (I'm sure), so that sounds like there is definite hope, thank you

I might try a sander on a bit underneath to see how it looks - otherwise, will give it a bit of love and a lot of time and try your other suggestion. Thanks so much.