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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Stain removal on old oak table

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Expert: - 10/5/2010


Question

table top
I'm attempting to refinish the top only of an old round oak table. It was refinished in 1980 but the final finish on the top was splotchy and uneven (due to exposure to extreme heat from a wood stove, or poor workmanship, I'm not sure). I was trying to avoid chemicals so I sanded off the finish. But the stain will not budge. My sanding has now caused uneven coloring of the stain, as I have sanded a significant amount of wood from the table top. Is it too late for me to use a chemical to fix my mistake? What chemical should I use? Thank you for your advice!

Answer
Hi Sandy, it's not too late, so I would use a stripper to strip the top....sanding really isn't a good idea to try and remove finish...it doesn't remove it at the pore level like a stripper, and can damage the wood severely.Stripper removes the old finish, dirt, grease, wax, grime, etc....all at the pore level leaving a clean surface to refinish. Splotchy'ness wouldn't result from the things you listed...only from a bad finish job, or a degraded finished that wasn't applied properly in the first place, most likely......A good paste type stripper will work fine for you....the Methylene Chloride type are strong and  a good choice for this type of job, but they can be more dangerous to use than Citristrip, which I use a lot, but both would likely work fine. Read, understand, and follow ALL the precautions, directions, and other pertinent stuff on the label, and let the stripper do the work....Any good hardware store should be able to help direct you, (Ace Semi Paste Stripper is a good one)...hope that helps- post back if need be- regards- Greg
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentTHANK YOU for your advice!!! I will go ahead with the stripper today!


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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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