Red Cedar dining table and 40 grit

[Grug]

Bet there were some gasps of horror! :U.
Here's my problem/s.

Table has white cloudy mark which I suspect is from heat.
Have tried the meths method (thanks jerryc) to determine if it is shellac...does not appear to be. Therefore I'm thinking something starting with poly and having very long molecules.
Can anything be done?If not can someone point me at a thread or FAQ for stripping/sanding back before I (read The Mrs) decide how to finish it.

I gather there's some do's and don'ts re: red cedar and this is my first dally into restoring/refinishing something which isn't oak.
I'll try and attach some pics.Thanks.

[astrid]

that looks more like damage from alcohol or a solvent (like drips) unless it was hot wax from a candle or hot fluid and it would have to have been really hot.

have a look at the thread re the table about 4 days ago and try some of these tips.
if they dont work, it looks like a full strip job if you cant put up with them.
How old is the table. If its a synthetic finish your in trouble.

Astrid

[Grug]

Thanks for your thoughts. Hadn't thought of spills...to my eye there appears to be a rectangular aspect to the mark but the low file size limitation means the resolution of the pic is limited. Am going to try the linseed, butter/olive oil etc suggestions tomorrow but I'm coming to the conclusion its synthetic. A couple of people have made reference to 'rules for cedar' and when I figure out how to make direct contact I'll quiz them.

As for the age, its new-ish (20 yrs or so), but I'm told is made from the old gallows staircase from Boggo Rd Jail in Brisbane...not sure if that's a great dinner conversation theme or not

[astrid]

the rub hard with oil method can work with synthetics.
I used this on a two pac polly once and it worked 90%
good luck

Astrid
let me know how it goes:2tsup:

[ubeaut]

http://www.ubeaut.com.au/reviver.html

[astrid]

sorry,
my eyes are getting old,
I was looking at the white dots and somehow missed the big patch.
but the answers are the same.

Astrid

[astrid]

See MacS post on the "water/heat marks on table" thread about 14 below this one

Astrid

[rsser]

Bet it's Estapol or the like if only 20 years old.

The boss's reviver is worth a try; ditto Astrid's advice. Failing those, heheh, it's strip time.

No drama. Just time. Recommend a cabinet scraper or Skarsten shave hook rather than chemicals.

[Grug]

Thanks for your thoughts. The more I look at the table the more I'm swinging to stripping. Besides the marks there are various scratches and marks and I'm not inclined to the distressed look. I leave that to my wife.
So before I research what the hell a cabinet scraper or shave hook is, is there a problem with me sanding the estapol (assuming thats what it is) off? Is this a 'cedar thing' one doesn't do?

[rsser]

Estapol doesn't sand too well. You have to strip it, mechanically or chemically.

[Grug]

OK Ta. Had a look at posts on scrapers, including a photoset from derekcohen. Will keep reading before I start the job. One last thing is "Skarsten" a brand name? Or a generic thing like "Stanley" knife?
Thanks, Paul.