How to refinish dried out table top?
by
Diane Eades
+14
I have a very old handmade herringbone pattern sofa table. The table had been stored in an un-airconditioned space and the glue holding the pieces of wood to the table top has dried out and turned white. Any idea on how to disguise all the white glue? I want to keep the herringbone pattern so painting would be the last option. Thanks for any advice.
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If the glue is dried out, my guess is it no longer holds the pieces in place very well. I would remove them, scrape off the old glue and reglue the pieces in place.
Plastic spatula or Old Credit Card
This method works best with a varnished wood surface such as hardwood floors, tables, and other finished wooden furniture.
Step 1: Use the plastic spatula or old credit card to scrape off as much of the dry glue from the wood as possible.
Step 2: Soak a clean rag in hot water, wring it to remove the excess water, and put it over the glue. Let it stay there for about five minutes to soften the dry adhesive.
Step 3: Once the adhesive is soft, wipe it off with a clean rag or cloth.
ref:https://woodworkingclarity.com/how-to-remove-glue-from-wood/
here is another idea to help you
https://www.woodmagazine.com/wood-supplies/glues-adhesives/make-glue-marks-go-away
A photo would help. Is the herringbone veneer still glued in place or is it popping off? If the wood pieces are still glued down then the glue is not problem. It may be moisture damage that is causing the white surface. That can be solved by placing a cloth over the area, an iron set to medium heat, and iron the cloth. Check every so often to see if the white is going away. If it is glue that surfaced you can gently "sand" the surface with a green Scotch Brite pad or kitchen scrubby. Sandpaper can go thru the veneer, don't use it. Then wipe clean and use three coats of a water based polyurethane to seal it.
If this table means a lot to you I would pay to have a pro fix and restore this. Unless you have done restoration work before and have the tools needed (clamps lots of clamps) it might not go well.
Clean well with teak oil or danish oil to nourish the wood. Maybe old English scratch cover will work.
I would clean it with Murphy's oil soap and then use a hemp oil for furniture to condition it.
Some very good suggestions from these readers. I really appreciate their time and effort to help me out. I'll try these ideas and hope for the best! Thanks.
It might not be the glue, it could be something due to the unconditioned space. Please avoid oil soaps as they build up and dull finishes over time. Try cleaning the surface gently with something like a hardwood floor cleaner then apply a conditioning oil like Feed n’ Wax or restorer.