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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Paper stuck to mahogony veer table top

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Expert: - 12/29/2009


Question
I left a display of loose photographs on a dining room table and an unnoticed ceiling leak got them wet. When I discovered this, the photos had dried and bonded to the mahogany veneer table top. It is quite a nice table, but there is a LOT of stuck paper. I have tried soaking with water and oil and using a plastic scraper and steel wool. The scraper gets some off, the fine wool doesn't and there remains a lot of paper. I didn't want to sand it down, as it seems there should be some way to float off the paper (and it is veneer). But maybe not. Any suggestions? Thank you in advance.

Answer
Hi Chris, I don't hold a lot of hope that one could float off the paper without damaging further the top....the photo emulsion must have melted and stuck to the lacquer, and it sounds like a refinish will be in order. That means a chemical stripper, NOT sanding....stripping will dissolve everything and leave the table clean and ready to refinish without damaging the veneer or the wood, but then it will need a new finish, and that's not a job for a novice.....

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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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