Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I live in the desert 6 months at a time. I left plastic place mats on the table when I left and I now have 4 square marks on the table, not white or anything maybe more like shadows. Can any body help me?
By E. Buckshaw
Leave the table uncovered, and perhaps, over time, the sun will fade the table to all one shade. I suspect that is what has happened. However, it may be that the plastic has discoloured the table top as well. However, other than covering the spots, letting them fade over time is the only suggestion I have. I am sure there is nothing you can do with cleaners or anything like that.
Try some good old Olive oil... apply it heavy over the entire table using a soft cloth (throw the cloth away when finished, it will be saturated) Let it alone while you do something else, letting it set will absorb the oil which is great for wood anyway. After letting it set for a while take another soft cloth and rub back and forth the way of the wood grain, continue rubbing and wala! Table looks like new! This is great for any stains (water, heat, etc) Marilyn
I have a oak table that acetone as been dropped on. It has taken the top layer off and it is now rough. Does anyone know how I can repair this?
By Anne
You will have to sand it out, then refinish it.
Try a wood crayon to cover the spot, then polish over it.
My new cherry finish table has loads of scratches on the shiny finish. The wood itself is fine but the shiny finish looks like someone took sandpaper and swirled it all over. This table is brand new and it's not something I want to strip. Is there some type of polish that buffs out those surface scratches?
I would return the new table to the store-- it should not have that problem. When the new table arrives,if you have to assemble it-- make sure the table top is placed on a sheet at the least.
Old English makes a scratch cover in dark and light. You can get it in groceries, Walmart, KMart, Target, etc. It's like a polish and stain combined. I use it on my cherry dining table, and other antiques to cover/minimize the look of scratches and nicks.
I have a question about repairing wood tables. I placed a hot pan on a piece of newspaper that was laying on the dining table. When I realized what I'd done I jerked it up and took the paper up, leaving a circular ridge on the table. It's almost as if the paper fibers stuck to the table. I've tried to get it off with baking soda and toothpaste and it's not worked. The mixture has left a very shiny spot on my otherwise soft matte finish table. So now I have this raised burned mark that is highlighted by a glassy shine. What should I do?
Being in the woodworking arena for quite some time I've restored everything from antique pianos to end tables. Short of taking it back down to the natural wood and refinishing it you have to find the base product that the stain is made from in this case I would say it's the newspaper ink.
Thanks! I'll phone the newspaper and inquire about their ink. Now, what can I do to minimize the high gloss that must be a result of either the baking soda or toothpaste? My table has a satin finish, so this REALLY shiny spot is very noticable.
I spilled cherry Crystal Light on my light wood kitchen table. Without thinking, I used a magic sponge to get the red stain off. The sponge took off the stain and the finish as well. So far I am touching it up with Old English (for light wood).
This only works temporarily because when you wipe the table clean some of the wax comes off until there is once again a bare spot. Is there any way I can fix this without refinishing an entire table top (which isn't an option right now)?SusannL from St. Cloud, FLI have refinished a couple of old things I found at yard sales with Homer Formby's refinishing and very fine steel wool. Just pour a good bit of the Homer Formby formula on the steel wool and move in circular motions until the entire surface is covered. Then, use another piece of steel wool and some clean formula in light, long strokes across the entire surface of the table.
Minwax makes these stain markers you can use to cover small scratches and they have a pretty wide range of colors. You can find them at WalMart or Lowes.
I was trying to rub off a Coke ring and spills to the surrounding area on one of my Ercol nest of tables and I rubbed too hard and took off the colour. Is there any way it can be improved without sanding it all (which I doubt I could do as I have never done it before)?
Thanks for any suggestion.
Yes, you will have to strip off the old finish, sand and apply new.
We have a solid natural wood kitchen table, and the finish has worn in a couple of places. How can we repair this, and what could cause this damage?
You might have put hot objects or wet objects on this wood, and damaged the finish. You will have to strip the top and refinish the entire top
After cleaning a carpet stain, a spray bottle of Resolve was left sitting on the coffee table. When removed, a few days later, it had been slowly leaking and a dry ring was under the bottle. I cleaned the dried on cleaner with Pledge and it left a much lighter noticeable ring.
It's almost like it took off the wood stain! Do I have to strip the whole table, this is new and I have never done any refinishing!
You can try rubbing mayonnaise on it and letting it sit for a half hour. Then gently buff. If that doesnt work, you will have to finish the entire top to make the table look right.
3 years ago I placed a heavy rubber mat on the top of a stored wooden table. Now after removing the mat, the finish has small bubbles and small raised spots.
Is there a fix without refinishing?Step 1
Place a damp cloth on the table top. Use your iron to iron the cloth. This will force moisture into the veneer and make it flexible.
Step 2
Step 3
Press on each bubble to get all the air out of the bubble
Step 4
Use white glue and squeeze it into the slit of each bubble. The glue needs to be under the bubble and next to the wood base.
Step 5
Press the glue into place
Step 6
If you don't have wood clamps you will need to place a heavy object over the area that was glued. Allow this to set for 8 hours.
Step 7
Remove the heavy object from the table top and wipe off excess glue. If there are too many bubbles or raised area you will need to refinish the table top if this doesn't work for you.
My nail polish remover with acetone made a stain on my black nightstand that came off when I moved the nail polish remover top. What do I do?
You can get a black paint to match and I high gloss topcoat.
My table has a round spot down to bare wood from a guest placing a hot coffee pot on it. It isn't the white mark that many people talk about, this is a round spot where all of the finish is gone down to bare wood the size of the bottom of a coffee pot.
Why not invite your "guest" over for a "sanding the table" party? Sandpaper, stain, lacquer and elbow grease are the ingredients necessary to repair the damage.
I left a set of vinyl coated weights on a table top during some hot weather and when I removed them they had melted the finish and left an impression where they had been. How can I repair this?
You may need to strip the entire top, and refinish.
I have an old mahogany dining room table. I moved it in the rain and the varnish stuck the table together. How can I unstick, to add the leaves?
You are basically going to have to heat this up so that you can use a screwdriver or a flat metal rod to pry this open. Use a hair dryer or hot air gun set on low to heat up the middle section of the table.
I need advice for cleaning a wood table due to melted place mat. My curling iron was on a place mat, a hard one not cloth that has cork board on the back, it melted some of the cork backing to the wood table. There appears to be surface damage.
By Heather
I am very puzzled as to what you have done to the table. Cork is the bark of the cork tree, and does not melt. Cork burns or chars. If the placemat melted, then it wasn't cork, but likely plastic. What is the mark like on the table? Have you charred it with your curling iron? We need more info, perhaps a photo, to help you.
I have an old coffee table. It has lots of nicks and scratches from our kids. What would be the easiest way to refinish it?
Jeff from Ohio
Refinishing a small wood table isn't that difficult. They have some great orange smelling stripper on the market now. It cost less than 10 bucks for a bottle the size you would need for the table. If just the top is scratched just refinish the top part. You spread this stuff on, let it set and then scrape it off. Sand, stain if needed and finish with sealer. Not hard at all. Ten bucks and a little elbow grease could get you a really nice piece to keep in the family.
