Revamping a table - pitch pine

John and a friend made the table nearly 50 years ago from pews sold from an old church in Cheltenham.  (It is thought the pews were 150 years old when removed from the church) The pew wood was split between John and his brother, I’m not sure what S did with his share. John made any number of pieces/shelves including kitchen units for our house in Cumbria, it is a strong and beautiful wood.  The theory is that pitch pine was used as ballast in ships travelling from America many many years ago, and eventually used to make furniture and pews.  Extra shows the leg of the table 

Anyway the table was in need of some TLC and after sanding the top John cleaned it with a plant thinner and once dry gave it a coat of ‘hard clear oil’

The photo shows half the table coated in oil. The table means a lot to us, the friend who helped John died a few years ago, a very talented man.