"Sticky" jarrah table surface

[DOC058]

Hi all. I have a 20 year old jarrah dining setting. I think the original surface is a polyurethane coating. It has had lots of Mr Sheen on it over the years. It is now quite "sticky". Forearms, newspapers & magazines stick to the surface. Can I use a solvent to fix this, or is it time for a strip, sand & refinish?
Cheers, Mike

[Master Splinter]

Try it with a solvent (acetone or spray paint thinners or wax and grease remover) first. If it works, it works, if it doesn't work at least you might remove some Mr Sheen. Get a few rags, pour some thinner on one, wipe small area of surface, discard rag, do again with a new rag. If that has no real effect, get ready to refinish. If refinishing, I'd give it a heavy going over with wax and grease remover (several times) first using the same method, before hitting it with a sander (so you don't contaminate the wood with silicone).

[DOC058]

Try it with a solvent (acetone or spray paint thinners or wax and grease remover) first. If it works, it works, if it doesn't work at least you might remove some Mr Sheen. Get a few rags, pour some thinner on one, wipe small area of surface, discard rag, do again with a new rag. If that has no real effect, get ready to refinish. If refinishing, I'd give it a heavy going over with wax and grease remover (several times) first using the same method, before hitting it with a sander (so you don't contaminate the wood with silicone).

Thanks Master Splinter. I've been away for a bit. Sounds like a good plan. At least I won't damage the surface with solvents, and if it needs a full refinish (sanding), this solvent stage is needed first anyway.
Cheers, Mike

[soundman]

Yeh quite often polyU degrades and goes gooey......BTW Mr Sheen is the work of Satin....never allow it in your house or your workshop.

MR sheen was originally designed for use on lamnate and plastics.....as well as having heap of silicone (which refinshers curse on a daily basis) it also contains an oil and solvent cocktail that may cause problems with a variety of finishes.

looks like you are up for a refinish no matter which way you look at it.

And to minimise the problems you WILL have refinishing..yu need to get as much of that gunge off the surface before you begin sanding.

much of it will scrape off....and if you can take as much that way it will not recontaminate the surface

cheers