Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - Clean with soap?

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mythlady
08-16-07, 11:38 AM
I'm trying to improve an old oak tabletop somehow -- my friend who's a very skilled cabinetmaker said instead of stripping it, to try steel wool and soap, then use polyurethane. But I'm not sure what kind of soap he meant (and he's gone out of town, so I can't ask . . . ). Any ideas? The Murphy's Oil Soap kind of thing? Thanks.

mythlady
08-16-07, 12:08 PM
Oh, also, I forgot to say that there's some discoloration due to mold, I think, that got into the finish at one time. Will the soap/steel wool treatment remove that, do you think?
Just Bill
08-16-07, 04:27 PM
How old is OLD???? Old indicates a shellac finish, which does crack over time and let in dirt. Clean with solvent alcohol(denatured). But if the piece is "OLD", you may not want to refinish, it can ruin the value of an antique. Which is why I asked how old.

mythlady
08-17-07, 01:06 PM
Nope, it's just plain old, not an antique -- just one of the dime-a-dozen round pedestal dining tables that my husband got for $75. If I screw it up, no big deal -- I'd just like to not stick to the top because it's so gummy.

I was able to get in touch with my friend today and he said by soap, he meant something like TSP (I think that's what it is).
mitch17
08-17-07, 06:19 PM
Sounds ok to me, as long as you're willing to take the risk that you might have to refinish the table anyway.
Just Bill
08-18-07, 05:32 AM
TSP will get off anything that needs to get off except the finish itself. Good place to start. Then you could apply a coat of polyurethane, or just a coat of wax.
George
08-18-07, 06:40 AM
A 'gummy' surface indicates a deteriorating finish which may be removed when you clean it. Be prepared to refinish the top.