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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/repair finish on a dining room table
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QUESTION: Dear Mr. Scholl,
I returned home to find a area of about 4X3 inches where the top layer of finish has vanished on our dining room table that is 3 years old. The damage is in strips going with the grain of the table. My question is, is there a trick or tip that you might have to just repair this area? It is a light oak wood with semi gloss finish. I have never seen anything like this and I hope you might be able to advise me. I thank you in advance!!
ANSWER: Hi Greg unless you have some serious finishing 'chops', trying to do a spot repair on a dining table is extremely difficult. There really is no 'trick', just the need for skill, experience, and a fair amount of knowledge to work with what is likely a lacquer finish. What is your skill level? And what caused this damage?
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: My skill level is is probably beginner to intermediate (Have worked with wood but do not have all the equipment so basic rudimentary stuff). As to how it happened..? No one around here has owned up to it:) It looks like the top Layer of Lacquer has been peeled off since the edges look rough like when you scrape paint..(if my example makes any sense...) It is not down to bare wood and there are no scratches. It is like the just the shiny last coat peeled off, but it is only in this one small area and it is intermittent..crazy. I thought about spray lacquer but wanted an expert's advice before starting anything. I appreciate you folks for what you do here!! Thanks for getting back so quickly!
All the best
Greg
It sounds like it went down to the sealer coat if it hasn't altered the color, and then it is possible that you might be able to wet sand it to feather in the rough edges and then respray the top...you might have to do several wet sand/recoat cycles to make the repair disappear...but the best way is to strip and refinish, and that takes some elevated skill and typically some spray equipment and knowledge there too.....
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | I must say Mr. Scholl was pretty helpful. It was what I was going to attempt and it is nice to know that I was not incorrect in how to carry on. It is such a small area on a nice kitchen table that I will make the attempt and if it doesn't work to my satisfaction then I will take his advice and have it professionally worked on. I appreciate that he didn't talk down to me and was clear in his advice. Absolutely all 10 ratings! Thank you | ||
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Answers by Expert:
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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