Parker Dining table with odd coloured extensions

[Ozzyvonny]

Hello Everyone.

I have a golden teak veneer MCM dining table that I’m attempting to renovate. Being a amateur I’ve taken the careful route (no electric sanding or stripper) and hand sanded the table top using 180, 240 and 320 grit, afterwards cleaning the table up with mentholated spirits and grade 2 steel wool.

The problem is the table top is golden teak but the two end extensions are dark. I can’t put it down to fading because it’s too radical.

I’ve tried to attach a photo to this post but can’t figure out how to do it.

Anyway, what are my options? I did want a golden teak which is pretty typical of MCM Parker.

Should I get the courage up and try stripping the two extensions back to the original. If that’s even possible.

If so what stripper do I use?

Was planning on mixing Cabots Danish Oil with Wattyl Craftsman Traditional Stain to achieve the golden teak finish.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Von

[pictureman]

I still think that it is sun bleached, stripping it back probably won't change the colour. may need bleach the extender leaves to match.

[auscab]

Someone must have re done the ends darker. The ends are normally the faded parts and the leaves which dont get used as much are stored away not getting as much light so stay darker.

Do some tests and see if the darkness strips off on a small patch . Some colour jobs are sitting on top of the old polish job. thats good if it is . Or some were striped and sanded then re stained dark . Thats not so good .

If its been re stained dark into the wood then you have to try and see if it will cabinet scrape off or sand off after stripping .

Just a gel stripper should be OK . Im using a new type for me . Anchor brand Professional One Shot Multi Layer Paint Stripper.
I like it .
I stain and get colour sorted then apply oil finish . Not mix together . What ever works though . I mix some colours with shellac if needed . Different thing .

Rob

[Ozzyvonny]

I took a better photo of the table. As you can see the colour I wanted was the existing golden teak like the top and body of the table.

I need advice on exactly how to finish this piece.

Many thanks for your help.

Von

[Ozzyvonny]

I still think that it is sun bleached, stripping it back probably won't change the colour. may need bleach the extender leaves to match.

So how would I go about bleaching the extensions?

[Ozzyvonny]

I have hopefully uploaded another photo but who knows.

[China]

I did not work for Parker although I did work for a "sister" company, on occasion a table with contrasting extension leaves would be requested by a customer, this may well be what you have
if this is the case the only way the change them would be the re veneer the leaves.

P.S. While you have it apart you may want to replace the felt runners.

[auscab]

Ahh it’s a draw leaf table . Just noticed the last picture .
What I said before isn't right then . The end leaves of these live under the top and usually remain darker because of that . I thought it was a loose leaf where the ends open out and the gap left takes leaves stored somewhere else .

[Ozzyvonny]

I sanded the solid table legs today and they are a golden teak colour just like the table top. It just confirmed that I’d rather finish the table a golden teak colour.

So what’s involved with bleaching the extensions? Can a rank amateur do it?

many thanks
Von

[Ozzyvonny]

Golly, I hadn’t notices anything wrong with the runners. And there’s another thing to fix. :oo::oo:

[Ozzyvonny]

Ahh it’s a draw leaf table . Just noticed the last picture .
What I said before isn't right then . The end leaves of these live under the top and usually remain darker because of that . I thought it was a loose leaf where the ends open out and the gap left takes leaves stored somewhere else .

Yes these extensions have never seen daylight.

My better half told me not to worry about it as the table will never be extended but I’d like to do the job right. I’m not going to add a finish until I’ve exhausted other options.

[Ozzyvonny]

I did not work for Parker although I did work for a "sister" company, on occasion a table with contrasting extension leaves would be requested by a customer, this may well be what you have
if this is the case the only way the change them would be the re veneer the leaves.

P.S. While you have it apart you may want to replace the felt runners.

Sorry, didn't read your post properly. You said "felt runners". Where should the felt runners be located under the table?

[rod1949]

Parker Furniture eh. So that would be veneered chipboard that people paid a fortune for?:o

[China]

Yes usually a strip of thin felt under the main top on each side to stop the extension pieces rubbing timber to timber

[China]

rod194 Correct now they sell for more than the did when new

[Ozzyvonny]

Ok, a great explanation.

And yes, veneer on chipboard is big news ((and big money) right now.

I got mine for nothing as it was just left outside as a freebee.

[Ozzyvonny]

I have just scraped off the Citristrip and glug after it sat under plastic for 24hours.

As you can see from the photo the brown stain still sits stubbornly over the factory teak finish. And yes it has been restained, as the person that stained the two leafs did a super sloppy job, again, see photos.

I would appreciate a step by step process of what to use and how to do it, given that it’s a over-priced teak veneer over particle board table (I agree China). The BH had a point when he asked why couldn’t Parker just have used solid teak for the entire table. Perhaps that’s question for someone who worked in the industry? China want to weigh in?

Anyway, any help with the bleach would be most appreciated.

[ubeaut]

Me thinks, that being Parker, it may well have originally all been either Rosewood or Walnut stained (my best guess would be Rosewood) because like many of that ilk and time it was a way of hiding a number of different timbers and making them look the same.

I would suggest that the colour of the leaves are what the original colour of the entire table would have been. Also I'm guessing the base it's on is another table you are using to work on because that base sure doesn't belong with the top.

For what it's worth I don't reckon there's anything teakish at all about the table. The teak would have been a golden honey colour. The dark stains in the light surface would just about make me think someone has stripped it before and that it was more than likely either Walnut or Rosewood. My bet would still be rosewood looking closely at the first photo it looks like a rosewood base coat of stain.

I reckon my parents had the same table which went with the rosewood sideboard, side cabinets and other rosewood Parker stuff all boxy all veneered and all exactly the same 1960's rosewood colour. If closely examined you could find 4 different timbers in the whole set. But good old Rosewood Stain along with very good finishing techniques made it all look the same. Almost one perfect semi lifeless block-out colour over everything hiding what lay beneath.

Not knocking it. It was good (overpriced but good) furniture for well over 50 odd years and looked as good when it was all finally sold to a dealer who was rubbing his hands together with joy when he took possession of it all.

You may never be able to make it all teak looking. You can't lighten a dark stain like what's on those wings. You also may not have much luck with DO on those wings. Hide ém away under the top as your wife said.

Cheers - Neil :U

[China]

I have to agree with Neil, now that you have some better photo's that it was all stained in the same finish at some point The company I worked for was a "sister" company to Parker and made Parker designs under a agreement.
The frame may well be Teak, the reason for the veneer over particle board, put simply in the late 60's to the mid 70's it was the fashion the latest thing you could have a teak or rosewood or walnut table buffet etc. for a third of the price. Most of the items we made were Teak, because at the time that's what the majority wanted. It was of only fair quality when compared to high quality pieces such NTN ( Norman Turner & Nottage ) although I don't know if any one expected it to be around in 50 years and selling for more than it sold for at the time.

[Ozzyvonny]

Thanks Neil, have taken your sound advice on board. Will now finish the table as is.

[pictureman]

You could try this method, Bleaching veneers (http://www.redbridgemarquetrygroup.org/bleaching%20veneers.html)