Hey Red, Your clocks look great! As far as your table, yes you can sand it down. I use 220 grit sandpaper with some WD40 as a lubricant. Clean off the WD40 with some mineral spirits, then wax the table with wax such as Johnson's past wax. the wax will make the table slick and protect it from rust. Do not use automotive wax that contains silicone as it interferes with finishes.