Expert: Eileen Cronk - 7/9/2008

Question
QUESTION: Have leather inlaid top on coffee table, gold embossed, with finish "Checkerboarding" or cracking. Can finish be repaired or stripped and reapplied? How to restore?

ANSWER: Hi Jim
Nice to hear from you.
First I would try a cleaning with saddle soap...may not help but give it a try.
You just spray it on and wipe with a cloth.
Can be purchased at most hardware stores.
Nothing else I have ever come accross to actually repair this surface once it has reached this stage.
You could be in for replacing it altogether.
Most refinishing places will do this for you.
Hope this helps
Great Question
Eileen

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

QUESTION: This piece has a varnish or lacquer finish & saddle soap does nothing but dull surface. Can finsh be stripped and another finish (what?) applied? A problem with another piece in same set is that leather has a small cut from dropping a tool. How best to mask or repair?

Answer
Hi again Jim
First try some lacquer thinner. It will remove lacquer and will not be as harsh as using stripper.
However, if this does not touch the finish then you will have to resort to stripper.
Jim I want you to understand that stripping a finish off of leather is not recommended. In fact I have never heard of a finish like this being applied over leather and wonder if someone added this over the years.
Usually the only thing applied over the leather is leather polish.
Now having said that, on the chance this could possibly be just that, mineral spirits will remove it.
Also understand that if this is not genuine leather it will be destroyed trying to remove the finish.
As I said previously be prepared to have this replaced.
Leather shops actually have the tools and methods to repair cuts in leather. Thats where the other table should go as home remedies do not work.
Good Luck with this.
Regards
Eileen