Expert: Eileen Cronk - 1/29/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have a table that is "country" style, very yellow wood (I'm a serious amature here -- I don't even know what kind of wood it is).  It has some hand painted grapes and vines and it is VERY distressed wood.  Looks really old and used -- very thick wood table top (like 3 inches).  In any event, the clear coating on it is sticky.  I don't know if I need to refinish it or clean it with something.  I use the Clorox wipes a lot because I have kids.  Maybe that is ruining the finish?  How would I go about finishing it (I can't really sand it much or I'll take the hand painting details off)?  What would be the best thing to use -- I have two children -- three if you count my husband.  Please help.  I LOVE this table and want to keep it in good condition.

ANSWER: Hi Lisa
Nice to hear from you.
First off throw the clorox wipes away.
They are ruining your finish.
Next you will have to get rid of this stickiness.
This will have to be done with great care because of the paintings.
Get some super fine steel wool and a can of mineral spirits.
First a small test area is a must.
Dip the steel wool in the spirits then gently rub the test area. Just walk away and leave it till the next day.
If the stickiness is gone, and you are sure it will not harm the paintings proceed with the entire top.
The only thing that comes to mind for a protective coat after this cleaning is an application of an oil finish.
Once again, try a small test area. Simply rub a bit on with a rag. Walk away and leave it for a day.
I like Circa tung oil, but there are other good ones out there.
Next is the question of how the heck will you know if the oil will harm the painting?
Well look closely at the artwork. Does your eye tell you that there is finish over the painting?
If you are not sure, wipe a little area of the painting with the oil. If the painting smears, stop immediately.
If not, walk away and let it dry.
I feel after that you will be safe to proceed.
I hesitate to suggest an oil based poly at this stage because of these paintings. I feel the longer drying time involved in poly vs. a very light coat of tung oil could do harm to the painting.
After the oil is dry, a coat of oil based poly can be applied for added protection. The yellowing factor of oil based poly should not be a problem on this yellow wood.

Now having said all that, what if your test area using steel wool and mineral spirits is still sticky the next day?
Well if thats the case, I would then have to guess that the finish is a waterbased product that has gone sticky from the Clorox wipes.
The only fix that I can possibly imagine is a very gentle abrasion with steel wool (no mineral spirits just the steel wool) and then a clear coat of waterbased poly.
Lisa I hope you understand this is guess work here as I have no idea what this finish is.
The paintings could be done with water based colors with a waterbased poly over top, or they could have been done with oil based colors and oil based clear coat on top.
There is however in my mind no guess work involved in what has caused the finish to go sticky.
Get back to me if you have further question regarding this.
Sure wish I was there for a look LOL
And test test test
Good Luck
Eileen


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Eileen.  Thank you so much for your answer.  I have used the mineral spirits on some test patches.  The sticky residue is gone and it almost seems like it removed all of the finish.  Was that supposed to happen?  I tested it on a patch with the painting too and it did not remove the painting.  My main question now is was the mineral spirits supposed to remove the entire finish because now the test spots have a matte finish instead of a glossy one like the rest of the table.  I also purchased some of the oil you suggested.  Is this the best thing to put on after I do the entire table with the mineral spirits?  Or should I use a poly?  Thank you again for your time!  I really appreciate it.

Answer
Hi Again Lisa
I know all this can be confusing.
It is to me too without being there.
So OK..you did the test with the spirits.
The stickiness is gone and the test on the painting did not hurt it.
My theory is that if the spirits removed the stickiness, then this finish was oil based in nature. It could even be lacquer which is oil based. Lacquer usually does not respond to using mineral spirits to remove it, but badly degraded like this I just don't know.
And yes the spirits certainly could have removed all the finish if it was badly degraded by the Clorox wipes.
I often see this matte look as you are after cleaning with spirits so don't panic there.
Lisa my main concern with not using poly as the first top coat was the paintings. I feared the longer drying time with poly could cause the painting to smear.
I suggested first a light coat of tung oil applied with a rag as I feel that will seal the painting from damage.
The oil will also get rid of this matte look you see.
But once again, do a tiny test area with the oil.
Just a light rub.
If you feel certain the painting will not be damaged, then use poly.
If you use the oil, then you can apply a coat of oil based poly over it.
The best thing of course is to go directly to poly after the cleaning with the spirits.
Good Luck
Regards Eileen