HELP! Has the dreaded white stain Ruined the finish??

[timbertom]

Hey Everyone.. i was hoping you all could help with this dilemma and offer some advice.

I've received an email from a customer who was wiping down her table top the other day when a white blemish appeared. I've attached a picture..

The table top was finished by burnishing Scandinavian oil onto the surface after its had time to soak into the timber. This technique was actually shown to me by a fellow woodwork forums contributor and has been my finish of choice since.

So, what to do next..? I've been reading some advice across the net but thought i should try this trusted site!

Cheers in advance
tom.

[tea lady]

You probably need to see the table in person. Kinda looks like its a dry patch. Just needs a bit more finish. How many coats did you do?

[timbertom]

hi Tea Lady..

What i did was.. saturate the surface with oil.. let it sit for 30mins whilst wiping over areas where it was seeping in and looking dry. Then wet sanded from 400g all the way up to 4000.

Good to hear that you think it might be a dry spot...??

Thanks
Tom

[tea lady]

You need to do more than one coat. Two or more depending if the wood is taking it. Burnish after the last coat.

Which Scandanavian oil? Oils aint oils.

[timbertom]

Wattyl scandinavian oil.. its in a red tin..

[LGS]

Hi TimberTom,

It looks like something really hot has been put there, but the mark has no real shape to indicate what has been put there, so I'm not sure.
Exactly what was she doing when the mark appeared? Was she wiping the table down with the dreaded Mr Sheen? That'll ruin any oil finish!!
I'd like a few more details I think before we can rule out certain problems.
If you feel it best, you can sand at 400g, then reapply the oil and work your way up through the grits again. It's a strange one! Something I've not seen before.

Regards,

Rob

[Toymaker Len]

Looks like a hot tea pot on a damp doilly done dat.

[LGS]

If it's a steam mark, it may well disappear by itself in time. My kitchen work bench is hard burnished and occasionally a steamy pot lid will leave a white mark, but a wipe down with Spray and Wipe usually gets rid of the mark. I've put hot dishes and hot cups of coffee and tea on my burnished coffee table for the last 6 years and there are absolutely no marks on the table at all.

[timbertom]

Hey Rob

I was waiting for your response to come along !

You're right, i need to find out more info. the only info i have is that she wiped it down and the mark appeared after that. ill find out whether any particular sprays were used.

Is there anything i should suggest she try in the meantime.. something that won't make it worse?

Cheers
Tom

[LGS]

I don't think there's much you can suggest to her, other than she keep an eye on it and see if it improves. If she has used Mr Sheen or another silicon wax, you probably did have a spot that wasn't fully burnished and the wax has caused some reaction or other. You could suggest she gives it a wipe with Spray and Wipe or a similar kitchen Bench cleaner. That may help. BTW, how long ago was the table oiled?

Let me know how you go.

Regards,

Rob

[timbertom]

Hey.. The table was oiled at least 3 weeks ago.. Maybe 4.

She said that all she used was a damp cloth.. Do you think it may just have to dry out? Any other suggestions..? I'll ask her to use some spray and wipe and see what happens.. Do you think its worth wiping on and then off a fine coat of oil?!

[LGS]

Tom, I think the best thing would be to see if it dries out. Wouldn't put oil over it until it is dry. Good that she hasn't used Mr Sheen. Perhaps she could go over the area with a soft dry cloth and give it a bit of a rub. That may take away some of the moisture. Good to know it wasn't a teapot on a damp doily too. The finish is more resilient than that!

Regards,

Rob

[timbertom]

Great.. thanks for the advice!

Ill suggest those things to her.

If it does dry out what do you suggest she does next? would some more oil help? the whole surface or just that area?

[Mobyturns]

Ah the old "I was wiping it down and it just appeared" excuse. Amazing how they conveniently leave out the real facts. I would go with a form of damage from aerosols, either directly sprayed or applied to a cloth that was left on the surface. The propellents in many aerosols are quite damaging to oil & laquer finishes. Even seemingly "safe" deodorant sprays have hydrocarbon propellants.

[LGS]

Hi Tom,

You can give the table a wipe over with oil after (if) the patch goes. If it is aerosol damage as Mobyturns suggests ( and I agree), then I think I'd redo the whole surface. Patching up oil finish doesn't really work very well. And threaten to remove her fingers if she does it again.

Regards,

Rob