Expert: Greg Scholl - 7/7/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I recently took ownership of a beautiful old extension table that has the worst water marked veneer top. I am happy with the base, and the 2 extension wings have come up exceptional. Unfortunately the actual main table top is so badly water stained. I have sanded the top as best as I can and to continue sanding I think I might break through the veneer. (I may have slightly anyway). Is there anyway I can remove the water stains? I intended to use this table on my verandah and wanted to varnish it with several coats of a clear floor estapol so that the weather elements won't ruin it. I realise that is probably sacrilege to you but the base looks awesome. Can i do anything about the water stains?? Thanks Suzie

ANSWER: Hi Suzanne, this looks like more than water staining to me....and if it's a veneer top, I wouldn't advise sanding at all....stripping off all the original finish with stripper should be the way to go. But this piece looks very badly damaged, and you may have compromised the veneer already...you could try bleaching the stains out with an Oxalic acid solution...but I'm not sure of the products you have available there. Perhaps someone in a good paints store or hardware store can help you locate it...but if you have sanded through the venner than you'll have a problem with making this look good- Please post back- regards- Greg  

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QUESTION: Hi Greg, thanks for the reply. I was told in a paint shop that if you wet the wood/piece it shows what colour  it would be with a coat of clear varnish. The picture you see is the wet table and it looks horrible and very orange. I only presume they are water stains, it came to me 2nd or 3rd hand and the marks were black ( maybe salt stains) when I got it. I will attach a new picture of the top just in its raw form at the moment. I thought I might try bleach on a small area to see if that will help. I would just like to reduce the stains. Also some of the veneer in the badly stained areas ( especially near the edges)seems also to be very dry like it needs a heavy dose of oil to moisturise it.It will not be a show piece but a conventional piece, but in its current state it is far to ugly for my liking. I would prefer to improve it. A friend suggested reveneering it? What do you think? Cheers Suzie

Answer
The first thing to do is chemically strip it with stripper. Then you can mix up some Oxalic acid solution and bleach the top. This is the only treatment that will remove mineral stains and dark water stains( it is a bleach).Then you can see where that leaves you. One can't "moisturize" wood back into shape like that...once cell damage has happened,you have to sand, fill, stain/finish the surface back into shape. You can definitely re-veneer it, although if you haven't tackled such a project on a large tabletop before, it can be difficult to do. It takes skill and a bit of experience to veneer large surfaces....


Please strip the surface first with stripper, you need to make sure the surface is clean of ALL old finish at the pore level BEFORE using a bleach, or stain, etc. Sanding will not accomplish this, unless you sand enough to go through the veneer.Let me know how you do....