Used dining table, what is on the surface?? Plz help.


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Old 03-25-17, 11:54 AM
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Used dining table, what is on the surface?? Plz help.

I just bought this used dining table and didn't realize it had spots all over the surface. The weird part is that you can only see the spots when there is a glare on the table. I tried scrubbing with hot water/soap/vinegar and a few other household cleaners. Any advice on what it is and how to remove them? Thanks!!!Name:  table.jpg
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Last edited by mattdwagner; 03-25-17 at 02:35 PM.
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Old 03-25-17, 12:02 PM
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No idea, we can't see it.
 
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Old 03-25-17, 12:17 PM
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Old 03-25-17, 02:36 PM
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Thanks for helping me post pictures Pjmax!!!
 
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Old 03-25-17, 05:20 PM
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My first question would help establish the type of finish you are dealing with... how old is this table?

I would first test a very small area with a q-tip or cotton swab and denatured alcohol. If that affects the finish at all, it would tell us the finish is a wax or shellac.
 
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Old 03-28-17, 11:08 AM
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The previous owners bought it from Ashley Furniture 15 years ago.

I'll try a test spot on the surface with the alcohol you are talking about. Thank you.
 
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Old 03-28-17, 01:40 PM
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You could also try wiping the finish with mineral spirits. It will dissolve wax and might wipe up contaminants but it won't dissolve shellac or any other non wax finish.
 
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Old 03-29-17, 07:08 AM
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I like the mineral spirits idea. Force me to opine and I would bet the finish is lacquer based on my experience with Ashley.
 
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Old 03-29-17, 08:07 AM
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Since the furniture is fairly new I would agree the finish is likely lacquer. I wonder if the spots might be grease spatter, like from sizzling fajitas or something... it looks like a solvent of some type has dulled the finish.

If the mineral spirits dont do anything to it, I would try polishing one of the larger spots with a Scotchbrite pad... the finish may be there... and has just been dulled in spots.
 
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Old 03-29-17, 11:44 AM
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I will gladly defer to Mark Sr or anyone else for that matter, because they are most likely smarter at this than I, but my first attempt would be something like Murphy's oil soap. I obviously don't know what happened to it, but in the one picture it almost looks like it might have been covered with a piece of plastic or whatever while it was damp, and that maybe those are mineral spots.
 
 

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