Red Cedar dining table and 40 grit

[Grug]

Bet there were some gasps of horror! .
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

[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.