Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/wood table top

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Expert: - 2/1/2010


Question
I have a table top that was stained form a white paper plate. The plate was set on the table with hot food in it and it bleached into the wood.  This nice table is almost new but now damaged.

Any suggestions on what I could do would be appreciated.

Thanks,


Don

Answer
Hey Don, what you're describing sounds like blushing, where the clear finish turns cloudy whitish sometimes even bluish white.PLEASE do not put mayonnaise,peanut butter, butter, margarine, cigarette ashes,Bacon grease, etc. on your furniture as SO many people seem to wrongly recommend. There is an aerosol product, a mixture of solvents, that is called "blush eraser" that can be sprayed on the area and will remove the blush in 9 times out of 10.There is a bit of a technique though to use it....you need to spray it in overlapping strokes allowing enough of a wet film to form, but neither too much nor too little over the area. The blushed area should disappear right before your eyes, but a second coat may be needed. If this doesn't work, then refinishing may be required. Sometimes also, the table will need to be rubbed out to blend the area after the blush eraser has dried. It's a fairly small investment that might save the finish. Hope that helps a little, but if you're unsure or unwilling to risk it, you can call in a Pro to evaluate it with you.Post back if need be- regards- Greg


http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17653

Be advised that this stuff is a blend of noxious solvents that actually reflow the lacquer temporarily, and so you will need to use proper protective practices, and provide very good ventilation, or even better spray it in a garage or outside on a warmer, dry day. The vapors are also explosive.

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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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