Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/burnt tabletop

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Expert: - 11/26/2009


Question

Table
Hi Greg,

I hope that you can help me.  I have a parquet table that is three years old.  Someone ironed on the table over a plastic tablecloth and I assume a towel.  I think what happened is that the finish glaze over the veneer melted pulling with it all the little white hairs from the underside of the plastic tablecloth.  I have tried to get this up with peanut butter and for the last two days, mayonnaise.  It is a lot better but we are left with a rather sizable melted area.  The surface is bumpy and slightly white as compared to the rest of the table.  The perimeter of the burn seems to be the most scorched.  It looks like if I could just get this off that we could possibly save the table from noticeable damage.

Answer
Hi Joan, I'm almost positive this will be a lacquer finish, and it's been burned and melted, so the ONLY way you'll be able to make this damage disappear is to have it refinished. Try to resist smearing Peanut butter and Mayonnaise on furniture..they both have a high concentration of vegetable oils, which can contaminate the surface and lead to issues when the table is refinished. The surface is melted and re-hardened trapping the flocking in the finish...and their is no easy way to fix this...the table needs to be refinished or possibly the lacquer could be restored by wet sanding and respraying...but this a job for Pro finisher.I would have someone in to evaluate it with you..(maybe a few people), they should offer this as a free service...regards- Greg
    Questioner's Rating
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    CommentThanks Greg for your timely response. I kind of figured that your answer would be the case, but at least is saves me a lot of time an effort over something that was futile. Thank you for your generosity in helping me out! Joan


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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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