ᐅ Multiplex Desk Surface: How to Refinish Like New?

Good day!

Twenty years ago, I had a desk made from plywood panels. The carpenter coated the surface back then with a clear parquet lacquer. For years, a slightly smaller glass plate lay on part of the tabletop. Over time, this lacquer reacted with various factors, probably including sweat, and became unsightly and somewhat “greasy” in places.

Now I have sanded the surface completely and wonder what I should apply to it. I definitely don’t want to use a two-component parquet lacquer again, as I’m not confident I could apply it properly. Would a clear oil work? I would also like to place the glass plate back on top.

Does anyone have any advice?

Matthias

We have done quite a bit with plywood, such as kitchen counters and bathroom panels or coverings. Of course, there are many options, but we have always worked with the company Osmo. If you want a clear finish, you can use the hardwax oil, and for a colored opaque finish, the decorative wax.

For the bathroom panel, we used the TopOil, which looks quite good. Keep in mind that the color doesn’t absorb as much as it does with wood, so you need to apply it carefully and quickly; this is usually indicated on the product. Otherwise, it could look blotchy.

You can apply it with a wide brush, cloth, or even a sponge, which is very easy and well-tested.

I had a colored, opaque decorative wax on a solid pine floor for over 10 years, which was simply excellent. The good thing was that you could paint over this color directly, although this was never necessary under normal use.