How to take "white spot" out of dark table?

[Richard]

How to take \"white spot\" out of dark table?

(or can you without refinishing the whole thing?)


Situation: a friend has a dark stained dining room table. Had warming dish, water spilled over & sat on table for couple hours under warming dish and turned the finish WHITE

Seems where it got wet, it turned the color of the finish to this white color and she’s trying to figure out how to return the color of her $1,600 table to it’s original color.

She’s all fretted out and is hoping there is some way she can remove this “white spot” and bring back her original color in this area. She said it's solid table, she doesn't know what kind of wood.

Any ideas appreciated

Richard

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

Re: How to take \"white spot\" out of dark table?

Richard, consider this Tip #4

 

[DAP]

Re: How to take \"white spot\" out of dark table?

Richard ... we do a lot of antique refinishing at my house. Without know what type of wood and finish (laquer, varnish, polyU, etc.) it would difficult to make any suggestions without making the situation potentially worse.

DISCLAIMER:

I will not offer any advice for you to pass along to your friend for reasons stated above, but I will tell you what steps I'd take if the table were mine and IT DIDN"T NEED TO BE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.

I'll have to make the assumptions that the table is hardwood and the finish is a polyU or varnish based.

Generally, I'll try the safest and simplest methods first, hoping for a good result. By safest, I mean the less intrusive/abbrassive. On a VERY VERY SMALL test area, I would try some colored wax pencil. Selecting the color is key. I use the wax pencil and try and rub the wax into the injury to the finish. It is also possible to try and repaint the injured finish but that takes some considerable faux skills. I've seen miracles performed at the hands of an well seasoned amateur. The above mentioned techniques basically utilize a 'masking' technique applied directly to the injured finish material. If that doesn't work then things get a lil more involved.

If masking the damaged finish can't be reversed or changed, then it has to be removed and a substition selected. Here you really have to know what exactly you're dealing with (underlying wood and finish material). If this was NOT a VERY valuable piece, the first thing I might try, knowing that maybe a part of the finish will need to be ... ummm ... removed, I would take a mixture of linseed oil, terp or mineral spirts mixed together at a ration of 1 part terp to 2 parts oil. Increase the Min. Spir. or terp for more aggressive results. Use FINE steel wool to apply this mixture on a test section. The spirits will start eventually to desolve the damaged finish material. Be warned, this will also remove lots of dirt that you might not know was there, and have a Clean spot too! This will take some skill and judgement though. Work in minute areas.

If this didn't work ...

I would take a dental pick and a magnifying glass and have at the finish surface 1 milimeter at a time. This generally doesn't work on it's own too well, but can assist in preparing the spot for the nex step, which is to remove the injured finish to the bare wood and hope you can match the hue's of a new coat of the appropriate finish material.

This is what I would do ONLY IF I didn't mind if it wasn't perfect. If it needs to be perfect, take it to a professional.

 

[TheKid]

Re: How to take \"white spot\" out of dark table?

A white ring is good because the water only effected the finish. A dark ring means water got through the finish to the wood. Try this first Cover the white ring with Mayonnaise then cover that with some plastic wrap. Let it sit for 12 to 24 hours. Depending on how deep it went that may be all you need to do.

If some of the ring is still there you'll need to use a fine abrasive. Put some toothpaste on a dampened cloth and rub the stain. Another thing that can be used is cigarette or cigar ashes mixed with a little cooking or olive oil. If you or your neighbor know someone who does wood working check with them to see of they have some rottenstone. It's another fine abrasive that can be mixed with oil to remove the ring.

 

[Richard]

Re: How to take \"white spot\" out of dark table?

All interesting replies & thank you.

I do not know anything about the table myself, so I'm simply forwarding the advice on to her and let her debate with her hubby what their best course of action might be.

I told her to contact the furniture store they bought it from & see if they had any ideas.

Glad to read that white ring is better than a dark ring.

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[unaka]

Re: How to take \"white spot\" out of dark table?

I once used cigar ashes.

Smoked a couple of good cigars down, saved the ashes, and then piled them on the white ring. Then, with my fingers I gently rubbed with circular motions using the ashes as a mild abrasive. It took a while and a good bit rubbing, but the ring came out with no damage to the finish.