Sandblast or sandpaper?

[Teapot74]

We have an oak dining table (V thick and heavy) with a darkish varnish on it. I want a lighter more natural effect. Could I get it sandblasted easily? Is that the best thing to do? Once the varnish was off what would I put on it? Just oil? Wax?

Sandblasting will make the surface very rough, because it blasts away the soft parts of the grain and leaves the hard.

An orbital or belt sander will leave it smooth.

People mostly seem to wax solid oak tables.

Have a look at the Liberon range.

Thanks piglet. Was looking at klingstrip on another thread and wondering if that would work on a varnished table...

(think sanding the carved bits on the legs would be difficult)

don't know. Strippers are not much good now that the harmful chemicals have been taken out. You can sand curved bits by hand, but actual carving will be quite difficult.

You could sand the top and paint the legs.

or you could paint the legs with Annie Sloan Chalk paint, you can use this paint over varnish without sanding it.