Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Repairing a table

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Expert: - 2/15/2009


Question

Table
My wife recently spilled nail polish remover on a section of our new table. I sanded down the section a matched up the stain exactly. The problem I'm having is this outer ring around the damaged area that I can't seem to get the stain to take. Is this outer areas still some of the poly that I need to sand out? If so, How do I do this without refinishing the entire top portion of the table.

Answer
Hi Tom
Nice to hear from you.
This white ring does appear to be finish as you suspect and you may not have sanded far enough to remove the damage.
Makes me wonder how far back you would have to sand to remove it but that is my first thought. Just try lightly sanding on a small section of the ring so you don't make it too much bigger.
See if that removes it...likely not LOL.
Tom these fixes are never perfect but heres what I would do.
You have your can of stain on hand. You know how the stain settles on the bottom and becomes concentrated? Take a spoon and put some of the thick stuff on a palette. Then use a small artists brush to feather in some color over the white.
This could take several attempts to get right but mistakes wipe right off. Could take a few attempts to get the color concentration correct too as the thicker it is the darker it will be so a bit of experimenting and rubbing off will be expected but this will cover the white.
When you get the color looking not bad (you won't get perfect), let it dry over night.
Then a light spray of clear coat. And I mean very light the first time or the stain will run. Depress your nozzle away from the table then only one quick pass over the damage and walk away till it dries (be fast LOL)..
This will set the stain. Then you can apply more if needed.
You say this is poly (are you certain?)but I would use a lacquer spray. I would also use a colored lacquer spray as it will also hide a bit more.
Here is the link
http://www.constantines.com/browseproducts/Behlen-Jet-Spray-Lacquers.HTML
Good Luck and hope this helps
Eileen  

Eileen Cronk

Expertise

Hi..I can answer most questions about the repairing,stripping and refinishing of all your old furniture and wood items(the things we call antiques)I can give advice about what to buy/avoid at auctions/flea markets. I do not give appraisals on antiques.

Experience

I have been refinishing antiques for the past 30yrs. While I have taken several courses over the years,I have found that "hands on" learning is the best teacher. Perhaps I can help you avoid some of the mistakes I made while learning.

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