Did I ruin my finish? Drexel Declaration Walnut Table

[probability]

Complete novice...
I got a Drexel Declaration walnut dining table off craigslist. Perfect condition, except for one heat ring. This wasn't just a milky white moisture ring though, it looked almost like the finish had been melted away. There was a distinct contour of maybe a millimeter.

Here's an account of my stupidity:
1) I got some fine steel wool, cotton towel, and Walnut Restore-A-Finish.
2) I wipe a small amount RAF and gently wipe with the steel wool.
3) No change.
4) I wipe harder.
5) No change.
6) Harder.
7) No change.
8) Now, I'm basically sanding.
9) The ring slightly fades.
10) Take a break.
11) Pour an ample amount of RAF on the steel wool and return.
12) Instant results with half the pressure.
13) The ring disappears!
14) Wipe everything up.
15) The ring is gone, and in it's place, a patch that's darker than the rest of the table! UGLY.
16) Step back and notice the beautiful shine on the table, except for the patch I just sanded with steel wool.

I encourage you all to tell me how stupid I am, what I should have done, what I must do for penance, and-- hopefully-- what I can do to save my table.

Otherwise, the solution is: placemats.

Thanks in advance!

[watson]

For penance.........go and stand in the corner, until someone comes along with a solution, and you'll probably have to go to bed without any supper.

[rrobor]

You can never patch nor can you get white marks out. What the white mark is is heat was applied to the top and moisture in the wood rises and gets stuck below the finish. That means your finish is a poly type surface, IE its plastic. now these sort of tops must be done in several coats but no coat can be completely cured as the next coat will not stick. trying to fill one spot will not work. So its a complete top sand and a new finish applied

[hap97]

Most times Restore-A-Finish works remarkable well. Do not despair.
The mark may have been more than a white ring as you did say "it looked almost like the finish had been melted away. There was a distinct contour of maybe a millimeter.", so maybe the only solution was to remove it and the whole of the top finish, which is now one option.
I used Restore -A-Finish on a white mark on a highly polished top. I did NOT use steel wool, but a cloth pad and it worked well, steel wool would have removed the shine.
Here is an example of a Restore-A-Finish used on a sideboard, steel wool used here. Note the heat ring.
hap