Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/solid wood top

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Expert: - 1/10/2009


Question

dining room tabletop
I have a beautiful solid wood table and chairs the top of the table im not sure due to having a tablecloth on it or what but when i took it off it has patches of dry spots, ink words from maybe a grocery ticket that may have gotten wet and just general places on it I cannot get clean. Its like everything sticks to it. I didnt know if I used a very light steel wool on it if that would do it. I also have 2 more leafs that go to it so I dont want to change the color etc. Any help would be so appreciated.

Answer
Hi Teresa, odd looking lettering, almost calligraphy like, If it's sticky in that area, it sounds like maybe the finish is degraded to a point...I would take some mineral spirits and wipe the table down in sections drying with clean rags as you go. It shouldn't hurt the table as I'm almost positive it's lacquer. It also looks like you have a whitish blush there, which can be caused by moisture or heat or both. See if that disappears when wet with the mineral spirits, it will probably be there when dry, but we'll deal with that when we see what happens after you clean the table thoroughly. It is possible that the table is damaged to a point that it will need professional help, meaning re-lacquering....

Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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