How to repair lacquer on table??

mogwai

Had an accident - someone spilled some unknown substance (looks the colour of coke - wouldnt be surprised) which seeped under my tablemats and ruined the lacquer on my table.

We've tried to scrub the stuff off, but some crusty bits are still there - how do we fix this mess?

The lacquer has come off too, and underneath is a dull surface which is also a different colour.

How do we find lacquer the same colour and how do we apply it? Can it be fixed??

ValHaller

You really need to identify what this 'lacquer' is before you go any further. Is it a wax? a traditional varnish? A polyurethane varnish? A variant of French polish?

And then, I would suggest you need to strip the whole top surface of the table - fortunately you know what will do this - and apply anew. It looks like a job for a professional.

mogwai

Dang - I had a feeling it might not be a quick repair job I have no idea what the finish is I just assumed it was either oil wax or lacquer - it doesn't rub off so I guessed lacquer.

We bought this from John Lewis so maybe they can tell us..!

So am I looking for a carpenter to do the job?

ValHaller

Carpenter? Well there are so many types - you want either a cabinet maker or a furniture restorer

MrTyo

I am surprised that coke did something like that, particularly if it is a polyurethane finish (however we all know the rumours of what it does to your teeth!). When you say it looked like coke, are you sure? how long was it left, or was it just that whatever was under there slowly melted the varnish which would leave a gooey substance which you are assuming is coke?

Without seeing the whole table it is hard to say how easy a job it would be for you to do, however i would suggest it would probably be easier to just strip it off and give it another few coats of (insert your preferred finish). My brief/gut feeling is that it is a modern varnish on either oak veneer of solid oak (if veneer dont saturate it) therefore it shouldnt be overly hard to strip off and reapply.

Ofc if you are not overly confident then you can hire someone, but unless its an antique (which im guessing it isnt from JL) then i cant see other than time and a small amount of money what you would lose by trying it yourself. If you make a complete hash of it then you can opt for paying someone, but stripping off what looks like a thin finish and reapply a new one isnt all that hard.

tony6403

Looks like clear gloss lacquer.
I would sand the entire top with 300 grit sandpaper, wipe with white spirit and when dry spray on a new coat of lacquer. Something like the gloss product from Axminster Tools below - £6.95 a can.

mogwai

Thanks, I guess I have nothing to lose by giving it a go myself first, looks like it doesn't involve anything too technical! just hope the colour doesnt look too different when re-lacquered as the chairs match it

So clear varnish makes the wood look a little darker?

MrTyo - I dont know if it was coke but it looked the colour of coke - and it had seeped under a placemat with plastic backing so maybe interacted with that to create the hardened mess I found after - I had to peel the placemat off the table after..or perhaps the varnish had a slight colour to it which congealed to make a coke coloured mess

I wouldnt be surprised though that coke could have that reaction if left for a few days or so..!

tony6403

mogwai wrote: »

So clear varnish makes the wood look a little darker?



QUOTE]

Yes it does.

mogwai

Thanks and can you tell from the picture if it
Is satin or gloss? No joy from contacting John Lewis about this as
They have discontinued the line

MrTyo

Apologies for the late response.

Personally i would just strip it using fine wire wool and meths/stripper dependant on finish. I would only lightly sand with fine paper afterwards, if you tried to sand the table with the old finish still on it will generally just clog the paper and take longer (imo)

In regards to your question as answered by tony, yes when you put any finish on wood it will generally darken it, a rough way of seeing what colour it will be like is if you dampen it slightly (i.e spit on your thumb and rub on a bare bit of wood). That will show you roughly the colour it will go once with a clear finish.

I would say they have gone for a gloss finish.

mogwai

I was thinking sanding down with fine sandpaper would take a while..maybe i should try coke on it overnight and see if that does the trick (just kidding)

Thanks, will try your suggestions.