Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - Fix tabletop spot where finished was removed
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craftykim
07-14-06, 07:27 AM
I very stupidly placed a couple of dishwasher detergent packs (the kind you just put in the dishwasher that contains detergent and rinse agent) on my wooden tabletop. Apparently one leaked and I now have a spot on the tabletop where the finish is totally gone, right down to bare wood, stain and all. How do I fix it? Can I fix it? How do I match it to the rest of the table? Help!
majakdragon
07-14-06, 03:58 PM
craftykim, welcome to the DIY Forums.
This can be very tricky. Is the table an expensive piece? If so, I would get it professionally done. You may be able to sand it down and find a stain that matches closely. You will have to experiment to get exactly the right color. You can always make it darker, but not lighter. So you put some stain on, let it sit and then wipe it off. If too light, apply some more and repeat the process. Final coat may be Poly or any other top coat. Sorry I cannot be of more help. Good luck.
This can be very tricky. Is the table an expensive piece? If so, I would get it professionally done. You may be able to sand it down and find a stain that matches closely. You will have to experiment to get exactly the right color. You can always make it darker, but not lighter. So you put some stain on, let it sit and then wipe it off. If too light, apply some more and repeat the process. Final coat may be Poly or any other top coat. Sorry I cannot be of more help. Good luck.
cilla2004
07-15-06, 03:57 PM
I'm in the process of doing the same thing today and I guess tomorrow too. I don't even know what removed the finish off of a 2"x2" part of the table. The table is from 1910 and not in great condition. So far this is what I have found. I put lacquer over parts which were low on finish and they look fine after I sanded with fine steel wool. The place which had absolutely no finish, turned milky with the addition of lacquer, unlike the other parts of the table. So now I am off to the store to buy lacquer thinner and see if I can take it off and try again.
I am pretty sure there are only two finishes which would be on the table, lacquer or varnish and I'm not sure if they are the same thing. I do know that given the age of the table, polyurathane is out and shellac is out as the finish isn't yellowed. I will certainly report on anything learned. I do know when I bought the lacquer, I had a choice of different finishes and chose 'clear semi-gloss' and hoped for the best.
I am pretty sure there are only two finishes which would be on the table, lacquer or varnish and I'm not sure if they are the same thing. I do know that given the age of the table, polyurathane is out and shellac is out as the finish isn't yellowed. I will certainly report on anything learned. I do know when I bought the lacquer, I had a choice of different finishes and chose 'clear semi-gloss' and hoped for the best.
cilla2004
07-15-06, 06:26 PM
The lacquer thinner removed the lacquer which had turned white on the spot. More steel wool rubbing. My next step is to clean with mineral spirits and repaint with lacquer.
I do know that when I had a piece of furniture refinished about 10 years ago it was finished with lacquer or varish, definitely not polyurathane as suggested by majakdragon. I don't remember why, but it was suggested by the refinisher.
I read more carefully craftykim. I must have missed that stain was missing. I do not have that problem. My wood is very dark mahogany which is probably easier to work with than a light or medium wood. There is no stain on my wood, so I am just dealing with the finish.
I do know that when I had a piece of furniture refinished about 10 years ago it was finished with lacquer or varish, definitely not polyurathane as suggested by majakdragon. I don't remember why, but it was suggested by the refinisher.
I read more carefully craftykim. I must have missed that stain was missing. I do not have that problem. My wood is very dark mahogany which is probably easier to work with than a light or medium wood. There is no stain on my wood, so I am just dealing with the finish.
cilla2004
07-16-06, 08:16 AM
I cleaned the area with mineral spirits.
Painted again with lacquer thinned with lacquer thinner and let dry. I put on a second coat. It is a little glossy, so I will take the gloss off with the fine steel wool. This time I did not get the milky coat that I got the first time that made me start again.
Painted again with lacquer thinned with lacquer thinner and let dry. I put on a second coat. It is a little glossy, so I will take the gloss off with the fine steel wool. This time I did not get the milky coat that I got the first time that made me start again.