Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/refinishing table top

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Expert: - 4/16/2009


Question
Hi, I recently bought an older claw-foot drop leaf table.  It was a bargain, but the top is scratched with yellow marks.  I would normally just sand it down and restain it, but I'm afraid of what kind of top it is.  I have run into this before.  I'm not sure what you call it, but the top finish is kind of thick, and scratches off, kind of flaky, when sanded.  Do you know what kind of top this may be?  How to go about refinishing it?  My fear comes from having sanded a similar top down and finding the wood underneath to be not such a nice top to the table.  Thank you so much for your help!

Answer
Hi Jessica, from your explanation, it's kind of hard to guess what you're describing....first of all, when refinishing something like this, you should really never "sand it down"....this is not the proper way to go about it. Sanding a finish doesn't remove it down to the pore level of the wood, unless, like sanding a floor, you sand so much of the surface away, you expose all new wood. With a piece of furniture, that can easily ruin the piece, especially if it's veneer. You need to chemically strip the top with stripper. What you're describing sounds like a Varnish, or lacquer finish.You want to remove all the finish with the least invasive process as possible. Then refinish with the proper processes of stain,and/or sealer, then finish.  Without seeing it, I can't even guess what you've got there, you could post a picture if that helps.

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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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