Expert: Eileen Cronk - 6/21/2007

Question
I am refinishing a coffee table that is ~10 years old. When I used a stripper the so called stain came off easily and underneath it looked like engineered wood all over, the kind of stuff that when stained would not be uniform all over. The wood is light, hardwood, and perhaps an ash wood. To get a uniform wood like look what product would I use? Is this a job for a Gel Stain?

Answer
Hi Tom
This is a tough question Tom.
Its times like this I wish I had long distance vision.
But I certainly hope the table is real ash.
If it is, it will stain very nicely.
But its does not sound like it so most definately use the gel stain if there is the slightest doubt of uniformity.
If the gel stain does not suit, just leave it on and spray the table with colored lacquer which is available in spray cans.
I suspect thats what you stripped off the table.
Colored lacquer has the stain in it, and it covers a multitude of sins.
Certainly would be interested in the outcome.
Regards
Eileen