vulnerable finish
#1
04-06-02, 10:29 AM
vulnerable finish
Hi,
The table I now use in my dining room is a 7' mahogony conference table that I had originally bought for my office, 6 years ago. The wood itself is in perfect condition. It has a very glossy finish, like glass, and the finish is VERY vulnerable to practically anything. I want to know how to repair the blemishes that are already on it, and / or to protect it from further insults. The problem is that even NORMAL behavior tends to hurt the finish. Do I need to completely strip it to correct the past damage and to protect it for the future, or is there a less time consuming option? (I recently used Fornby's furniture face lift on another piece, and it turned out great, but it had very different symptoms. )
Specifically, these are the blemishes--
1. My office assistant had put a carafe of hot coffee with a thick, terrycloth potholder under it ( I know the potholder was there, because I saw him do it). Nevertheless, it left a whitish mark, visible only at some angles. There are 3 others like this, smaller, probably by the same mistake.
2. Numerous fine scratch marks, simply from having meetings, doing the most normal of things, like writing with paper and pencil, stacking books and files (no dirt or grit).
3. "Foggy" look in spots, maybe scrubbing marks? These have ocurred since we moved it from the office.
There are no gouges, bare wood, or even the slightest irregularies when I run my hand over the surface. This problem is only as deep as the finish.
Thanks. I appreciate any advice you can give me! My other tables have finishes that seem to take any kind of treatment!
Trudy
The table I now use in my dining room is a 7' mahogony conference table that I had originally bought for my office, 6 years ago. The wood itself is in perfect condition. It has a very glossy finish, like glass, and the finish is VERY vulnerable to practically anything. I want to know how to repair the blemishes that are already on it, and / or to protect it from further insults. The problem is that even NORMAL behavior tends to hurt the finish. Do I need to completely strip it to correct the past damage and to protect it for the future, or is there a less time consuming option? (I recently used Fornby's furniture face lift on another piece, and it turned out great, but it had very different symptoms. )
Specifically, these are the blemishes--
1. My office assistant had put a carafe of hot coffee with a thick, terrycloth potholder under it ( I know the potholder was there, because I saw him do it). Nevertheless, it left a whitish mark, visible only at some angles. There are 3 others like this, smaller, probably by the same mistake.
2. Numerous fine scratch marks, simply from having meetings, doing the most normal of things, like writing with paper and pencil, stacking books and files (no dirt or grit).
3. "Foggy" look in spots, maybe scrubbing marks? These have ocurred since we moved it from the office.
There are no gouges, bare wood, or even the slightest irregularies when I run my hand over the surface. This problem is only as deep as the finish.
Thanks. I appreciate any advice you can give me! My other tables have finishes that seem to take any kind of treatment!
Trudy
#2
04-10-02, 07:07 PM
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Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: South Hill, Va. USA
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A little time and elbow grease, and for under $10 you can have a table that looks like it just came out of a spray booth.
Turtle Wax Polishing Compound and Scratch Remover (from an automotive supply store). Follow the directions on the can, and do the entire top for uniformity of sheen.
Turtle Wax Polishing Compound and Scratch Remover (from an automotive supply store). Follow the directions on the can, and do the entire top for uniformity of sheen.
