Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/veneer table top

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Expert: - 10/14/2008


Question
i have a oak table with oak veneer top the finish is dull and worn can the top be sanded and refinished

Answer
Hi Darleen,   Veneer is a very thin sheet of wood which can quite easily be sanded through.  The best chance to rejuvenate your table top would be some light sanding with 000 steel wool by hand.  Under no circumstances use any type of power sanding.  Use the steel wool and lightly sand in the directon of the grain being careful not to concentrate too long on any one area. You want to only try to remove the clear finish and dirt so that you get down to the raw veneer level. It is important that after sanding you will need to be sure that you have removed all of the small metal fillings that come off of the steel wool pad.  Use a tacky cloth or a very slightly damp rag.  Go over it a few times to make sure you get it all.  If this is successful, you can now apply a clear oil-based polyurethane to the table top.  Depending on how deep the worn areas on the table are, you may or may not be satisfied with the results.  It is worth the chance as your only other option would be to completely replace the oak veneer layer, which is difficult to do.  Good luck with your project and thanks for the question.

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maura macaluso

Expertise

I can answer most questions, regarding, wood sculpture, wood carving, carving tools and accessories and different types of woods.I am not an appraiser of carvings nor an antique dealer.

Experience

I do full design work, custom carving, restoration, fabrication, repair and refinishing. I can take a piece of raw wood and turn it into a work of art and I can help you do the same. I am "the" carving instructor for the new york city parks dept. I am heavily involved in carving on the internet and belong to many, many mail lists which are quite active. I am also an international promoter of woodcarving and am affiliated with many master carvers, notably nora hall, originally from holland, now in the U.S. and kalina pavlova, a bulgarian master carver. I routinely communicate with the top names in professional woodcarving nationally and internationally.

Organizations
the national association of woodcarvers. the woodcarvers of queens NY, the staten island woodcarvers. the northeast woodcarving association. the world wide carving internet list

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chip chats-the national magazine of woodcarving. also at www.carvinginnyc.com

Education/Credentials
Self taught artist and sculptor, 40 years of drawing and painting as a hobby, 5 years of serious woodsculpting. I have my own website and have written a 300 pg book on carving. I have published online tutorials and pictorial projects

Awards and Honors
many first place awards

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