Expert: Eileen Cronk - 8/18/2007

Question
Hi there,

I'm refinishing only the top of our dining room table.  As I was sanding, I
noticed some lighter colored spots appearing along the sanded areas.  I ran
my hand over the area and the wood seems to have bubbled up in various
spots.  I stopped sanding because I dont want the wood to be completely
spotted and discolored.  Do I have to sand the wood down even further to get
the color even? Please help!

Thanks for your time

Answer
Hi Christy
Nice to hear from you.
Christy its a good thing you stopped sanding when you noticed these bumps or you would have ruined your table.
The table top is obviously veneer, and it has lifted.
The veneer is very thin wood which is glued to the underlying solid wood of your table top.
The wood seems spotted in these bubbled areas because you have sanded the color out of the high spots.
In most cases veneer can be glued back down, but if you cannot do this, you will have to get a pro.
Sorry its not better news.
Regards
Eileen