Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - damage to finish on new end table
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10-06-01, 09:18 AM
My daughter left a cotton ball soaked with fingernail polish remover lying on my new end table. It penetrated and removed the finish in a conspicuous place. It isn't discolored. I pray to God that one of you will take mercy on me and suggest a remedy short of stripping and refinishing before my wife finds out.
George
10-06-01, 02:21 PM
It can be fixed. You'll need 400 and 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper, a small block of wood to use as a sanding block. Small being about 2X3 inches - no larger. A can of aerosol lacquer in the proper sheen - I'd suggest Deft. Also, a can of Turtle Wax Polishing Compound and Scratch Remover.
Using the block backing the 400 grit paper, wet the area and sand is lightly - this is to remove and finish strnads that may be above the overall table surface. Dry the area completely and spray a coat of the aerosol lacquer on the damaged area. Don't mask the area off with tape and don't worry about the overspray. After this application has dried, use the 400 grit paper (with water) to sand away the overspray. You can sand across the damaged area, but go easy.
Repeat this procedure until you have filled the damaged area and leveled it out. Switch to the 600 grit paper and sand completely (use water) to smooth the area further. Use the 0000 grade steel wool to remove most of the sanding marks. Apply the Polishing Compound (by the directions on the can) on the entire top (for an even sheen). This method is time consuming, but the average person with a little patience can make a repair that is virtually undetectable.
Be sure to let each application dry completely before trying to sand out the overspray. Get in a hurry here and you'll cause more damage than was originally done.
Using the block backing the 400 grit paper, wet the area and sand is lightly - this is to remove and finish strnads that may be above the overall table surface. Dry the area completely and spray a coat of the aerosol lacquer on the damaged area. Don't mask the area off with tape and don't worry about the overspray. After this application has dried, use the 400 grit paper (with water) to sand away the overspray. You can sand across the damaged area, but go easy.
Repeat this procedure until you have filled the damaged area and leveled it out. Switch to the 600 grit paper and sand completely (use water) to smooth the area further. Use the 0000 grade steel wool to remove most of the sanding marks. Apply the Polishing Compound (by the directions on the can) on the entire top (for an even sheen). This method is time consuming, but the average person with a little patience can make a repair that is virtually undetectable.
Be sure to let each application dry completely before trying to sand out the overspray. Get in a hurry here and you'll cause more damage than was originally done.
10-07-01, 02:48 AM
George T.
I read your reply to betsyritz as you suggested as a possible solution to my cat scratch problem. These scratches definitely penetrated the surface because I can feel them. Will the sandpapering remove the color that was stained onto the wood? If it did , should I do a step somewhere in the process to restore the color? How?
Thanks,
JT
I read your reply to betsyritz as you suggested as a possible solution to my cat scratch problem. These scratches definitely penetrated the surface because I can feel them. Will the sandpapering remove the color that was stained onto the wood? If it did , should I do a step somewhere in the process to restore the color? How?
Thanks,
JT
George
10-07-01, 12:07 PM
JT:
That's the idea behind sanding away ONLY the overspray - you don't remove much (if any) of the original finish while filling up the scratches themselves.
If this process is followed carefully (don't sand to much, in other words) and assuming the finish isn't ultra thin, you should have no problem with the color.
That's the idea behind sanding away ONLY the overspray - you don't remove much (if any) of the original finish while filling up the scratches themselves.
If this process is followed carefully (don't sand to much, in other words) and assuming the finish isn't ultra thin, you should have no problem with the color.