Wood Basics

[dpgurney]

Hi Duane,

What a bizarre coincidence! I was looking at this site to find out the best manufacturers of wood furniture, and I just happened on this thread. Turns out you answer one of the questions I would have had no idea how to look up on Google--why did my coffee table suddenly get white spots on the top? What you said about the pizza box is exactly what I did. Oops! I thought it was just a grease stain so I applied some Pledge (which did make it go away for a second) but that didn't help. Is there a way to fix this damage?

Thanks!

[drcollie]

Yes, but it takes some speciality material...and some courage. What happens from the pizza boxes is that the heat 'opens' the finish, allows humidity to get in there, and as the boxes are either removed or allowed to cool down, the finish closes up again. If you grab that pizza box and feel a little 'sticky' as you remove it, that's proof of it. How to get a 95 % fix short of stripping the whole finish.

* Get a can of No Blush here: http://www.mohawk-finishing.com/cata...asp?ictNbr=641

* Get a can of lacquer topcoat clear (your choice of dead flat, flat, satin, gloss) http://www.mohawk-finishing.com/cata...asp?ictNbr=434

* Some "0000' Steel Wool and Mineral Spirits.

Procedure:

1. Wipe the table top surface down with Mineral spirits to get it clean.
2. Spray the No Blush on the affected white spot areas, as heavy as you can get it without puddling it.
3. When the No Blush dries, your white spot should be gone.
4. Apply the clear topcoat to the entire table top surface.
5. Steel Wool it smooth and level.

Note that a high gloss finish will be MUCH harder to work.