I have the item pictured. When it getas wet, the wood expands and the color fades. Can I seal this?

In all likelihood you can recoat the table. From your description my guess it has a lacquer finish on it. Some testing needs to be done first. In an inconspicuous place take a Q-tip wet with lacquer thinner and wet a small spot. If the finish seems to dissolve it is lacquer compatible. This would be great as the solvents in lacquer normally melt away any water damage which may be there already. If it wrinkles up then it has an oil base finish which isn't compatible with lacquer. If you determine it is lacquer then clean the table with Krud Kutter Gloss Off and let dry. Then lightly sand the table with 220 grit or finer paper. Then spray the table with a pre-catalyzed lacquer. If you don't have the means of spraying it is available in rattle can form at Mohawk Finishing Products.

If it is a oil based finish then clean and scuff sand it and use a oil based varnish or polyurethane. If you don't have the means of spraying you would probably have better luck with a wipe on poly.

 

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First off, are you sure the piece is wood or hardwood plywood? If it is, it's likely you won't stop the expansion and contraction with more finish. You may slow it down though.

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