Repairing oak wax finished table.

Lisa2000

I have an oak dining table that I love, when I bought it I was given a tub of wax and told to wax it every 6 months. Looking into it now I'm pretty sure I've overdone it over the past few years, too often and too much wax. I have some plastic woven style placemats which have made marks in the wax which you can see all over the table and as well as this something (no idea what) was spilled over one of these and not noticed for a few days making a horrible stain that is ingrained in the wax so no way to clean it off.
Basically I want to try to repair this myself if possible, is it as simple as sanding it and rewaxing or is it more complicated than that.

neilmcl

A light sanding should do the trick but you'd need to do the whole table else it will look uneven.

GDB2222

If it’s just the wax finish, would it be worth removing that with white spirit before deciding whether to sand it?

twopenny

The traditional way to clean a wax finish is to use white spirit sparingly wiping off the polish. I have used rags, Jeye cloths are good and paper towels can be used.

I used neat white spirit on my bedroom furniture last spring. Had to do some bits more than once but the result was lovely.

It looks to me as though the woven mats are letting heat through and condensing so marking the table. Put a cheap solid table mat under them.

It's water getting under the wax that marks it. The stain you have looks like moisture under the wax possibily into the wood. Removing some of the wax should make it less visible and the place mat marks go away completely. If it's moisture that has stained the wood itself then it could go deep, I would get a professional to tend to it if that is the case. Pale wood is so much more difficult to work because the stain has gone into the wood itself.

Sanding is going to be hard going if there's a lot of wax because the wax will stick in the sanding paper and transfer further down. Also need a lot of sand paper.

Another risk is sanding too much in one place making it uneven in colour or going through the wax and lifting the grain in the wood with a moments lack of concentration

Whichever you choose always work with the grain of the wood.

Be prepared fo some tedious work with radio,podcasts,TV to keep you amused. You don't have to do the whole table at once but you should do the whole table so the finish is even.

Tippytoes

I bought an old, badly scratched mahogany table for a couple of pounds in a charity shop.  I decided to have a go at restoring it myself - if it all went pear shaped, no great loss.

I used finest grade wire wool, linseed oil and old rags - process like old fashioned "spit and polish".  It took some time, but eventually the wood came up like glass.  

daveyjp

Until you are certain it is solid oak don't sand anything. You may need a pro to have a look, especially with the stain.

If you do get it fixed a glass table top is worth having.

Lisa2000

daveyjp said:

Until you are certain it is solid oak don't sand anything. You may need a pro to have a look, especially with the stain.

If you do get it fixed a glass table top is worth having.

It is definitely a solid oak table

Lisa2000

It looks to me as though the woven mats are letting heat through and condensing so marking the table. Put a cheap solid table mat under them.

Thanks, I've ditched the woven mats and have some solid ones now.

Lisa2000

twopenny said:

The traditional way to clean a wax finish is to use white spirit sparingly wiping off the polish. I have used rags, Jeye cloths are good and paper towels can be used.

I used neat white spirit on my bedroom furniture last spring. Had to do some bits more than once but the result was lovely. 

Be prepared fo some tedious work with radio,podcasts,TV to keep you amused. You don't have to do the whole table at once but you should do the whole table so the finish is even.

I don't mind doing some tedious work, I just don't want to risk damaging the table, is white spirit the safer route to try?

twopenny

Tippytoes said:

I bought an old, badly scratched mahogany table for a couple of pounds in a charity shop.  I decided to have a go at restoring it myself - if it all went pear shaped, no great loss.

I used finest grade wire wool, linseed oil and old rags - process like old fashioned "spit and polish".  It took some time, but eventually the wood came up like glass.  

Try this first. I had some great lessons from an elderly well respected furniture restorer years ago and this was one of the method he taught but used finest grade wire wool and wax polish (Antiquax was the one I used) The joy of this method is that you clean off old wax and lightly replace at the same time which is a bonus. Do small area at a time and to test to see if it's making a difference. As you will likely be in the dining room put a cloth under the table to collect any bits from the wire wool and wax. Wear washing up gloves too protect your hands from old polish and the wire wool. You;ll probably need more than one pair if it works and you want to do more.

I did an 150yr old mahogony table and a 200yr old cottage chair, in both cases there was a lot of old polish that had got dirty. So this might be the answer to the marked spots.

I'd then use the bog standard white spirit with paper towels. Vinyl gloves are enough for this though it will go through them if you're doing the whole table.

Or you could use  Lord Sheraton Caretaker wood balsam with the fine wire wool to get off any build up of polish (it has spirit in a soft wax balsam) so you clean and polish lightly as you go.

Both polishes are easily available. The wax from an ironmongers and the Balsam from one of the main supermarkets usually but also in ironmonger type shops and both are under a fiver.

Just don't rub too hard and keep with the grain. The wire wool & wax is for problem places, the balsam or white spirit and paper towels for maintenance once or twice a year so you don't get wax buildup.

Don't be too frightend of it if it's solid wood. He taught me to restore a Queen Anne table with wire wool and Vim. An abraisive kitchen powder! It's amazing what you can do with good wood.

Just the sort of job for lockdown. I did my furniture during the first. Seeing it gleam is the reward afterwards. Didn't know it could look that good.  Hope to see a photo of a spotless table once you've recovered from the effort

PS if that stain, looks like red wine, doesn't come out with these methods do ask for advice. It can be got out and without too much effort but I'm loath to advise on it. It will probably involve take the wax off and using a 'bleaching' type product. Oxalic acid used be the stuff for removing ink or rust stains but hopefully there is something safer these days. You can restore all to perfection.

Lisa2000

Just the sort of job for lockdown. I did my furniture during the first. Seeing it gleam is the reward afterwards. Didn't know it could look that good.  Hope to see a photo of a spotless table once you've recovered from the effort  

PS if that stain, looks like red wine, doesn't come out with these methods do ask for advice. It can be got out and without too much effort but I'm loath to advise on it. It will probably involve take the wax off and using a 'bleaching' type product. Oxalic acid used be the stuff for removing ink or rust stains but hopefully there is something safer these days. You can restore all to perfection.

 Thanks I've ordered everything for next day delivery, I'll keep you updated.