If this table was commercially made, it is highly unlikely to have a
polyurethane finish, which may actually be a good thing for you.

Either way, start by preparing the surface. Clean it really well using
something like a capful of Dawn in a gallon of warm, not hot, water and lots
of clean cloths. Rinse with fresh water and dry immediately with clean
cloths. Clean it again with paint thinner, mineral spirits, or naphta.
Again, use lots of clean cloths. Carefully sand any severe roughness down
and then go over the whole surface with some fine sandpaper to just barely
provide the next coating with a slightly roughend surface. Prime and seal
the surface with BIN. This is a white pigmented shellac. It will stick
quite well. As for a topcoat, pigmented lacquer is the best followed by
acrylic latex or oil. The acrylic latexes of today are rivaling the oils.
There are obvious advantages of waterborne finishes over oils. Do NOT use a
vinyl latex as these will be too soft for a table top.

Good Luck.

wrote in message
ups.com...
Advice please ,in LAYMENS terms ! I would like to paint a solid oak
table, which has a polyeurethene finish, in a WHITE SATIN FINISH. I
have been told that a lacquer paint gives a durable finish? This will
be a breakfast room table. I am happy to sand this down so it will be
ready to finish but not sure what the best paint to use? I do have a
Wagner 120 sprayer but have no idea which way to go from there. Latex,
Enamel or Lacquer? Do I need to cover it with something like Kilz
first, can I use that in a sprayer? Or do I just need some sort of a
sealer before doing the paint? HELP, all you experts out there!