Can this old table be saved?

[Bunglegirl]

My dad had this old library table. It's probably from the 1960's or earlier, I'm not sure. He cut off the legs a long time ago to make it coffee table height. I'm in need of a sturdy project table and hoped to refinish it and add taller legs. I've tried calling around to find 3 inch square lengths of wood to make the legs but I think it's oak and any hard wood is going to be more money than I want to spend on legs. I'm thinking about gluing thinner boards together. The top has a sort of particle board with a strange surface inset. I'll probably try to replace that too as it has some indentations. My dad had me help him on projects growing up so I've done a little woodworking but nothing serious. I still have his old table saw in the garage.

Anyway, about the refinishing part. I bought stripper today to take off the thick, gross varnish that's currently on there. I knew it wasn't in perfect shape but when I flipped it over I noticed lots of white spots. I think it may be mold, I have no idea. When I scrape it some black dust comes off but most of the white spots are really in there.

Is there a way to salvage it? I hate to throw away a good solid table like this but I don't want to make myself sick with a contaminated table. I'm including images of the table and the mold on the underside and drawers below. Can I strip it and stain it? Put a sealant or base coat on there and paint it? Throw it in the garbage?

The table & drawers:



The underside of the table:


The worst part, underside corner:


Drawer bottoms:


Drawer tops:

[RufflyRustic]

First and foremost, wash it. you could use a little bleach and some detergent in warm/hot water. You could also have a look at the deck cleaner solutions in your local hardware store.

When you wash the table, try not to flood it, just wet enough that the solution will attack the mould and enough that you can remove the surface dirt.

Rinse well.

Then let it dry and see what you have.

You may find a good sand back to natural timber might be the way to go, or you might prefer to simply 'revive' the finish.

Anyway, start with clearing away the dirt and mould, see what you have and go from there.

Good luck

PS Yes I'd restore the table, it looks a beauty.

[The Bleeder]

First thing, Hi and welcome Bunglegirl to the best forum in the world.

Yes it can be salvaged. Now it just depends on what state you want it back to.

It does look like its mold and depends how far into the timber it has penetrated or if it's just on the surface as to the treatment required.

I have tried oxalyic acid (diluted) or white vinegar and a small scrubbing brush with some success where it hasn't penetrated to deeply. (the idea is to kill the mold). Try in on a place that won't be seen.

I would not recommend using anything highly caustic at this stage.

Yes if you neutralize the mold (it looks like mold) then you can start stripping and restoring it. There are many finishes that can be used. It's then up to you. Others here will offer advice as well.

We are here to help.

Steve

[Woodwould]

Welcome Bunglegirl!

If the table were mine I would wash it down with 50-50 warm water and vinegar with a splash of washing-up liquid in it.

I would also keep it just as it is. If you plan on doing any furniture restoration or chair making, it looks an ideal height for a work table. The drawers would be very useful too.

Perhaps the top could be protected with a slightly oversized sheet of ply or MDF (with a strip of solid timber glued around its edge to prevent it sliding off the table) and then it could always be reverted to a library table at a later time if desired.

[Bunglegirl]

Great! I'll give it a try one the sun comes out. Thanks for the welcome. Although I know the height would be great for woodworking (probably why my dad cut it down, although I think he used it for car restoration) I need something I can stand at at cut paper with a blade or spread a project out on. Dining table s are a little bit too low, and desks are way too low so I'm hoping to make it the perfect height.

I'll post with the results.

[Lumber Bunker]

Vinegar is the shot when it comes to mold.

If you need new legs and a new top... Why not have a crack at a new table all together!
It reminds me a story my father uses every time he fixes something... "this is the same hammer i've used for 40 years... it's had 3 new handles and and 2 new heads! but is still the same hammer... right?"

Good Luck.

[Frank&Earnest]

Yes, replacing the legs would almost negate the concept of "restoration", wouldn't it? I would drill a hole in the centre of the legs, make pieces to prolong the legs to the desired height and attach them with a steel rod in the centre. This would also cut substantially the cost and avoid lamination. Requires a certain amount od accuracy and access to a drill press, though.

[Woodwould]

I would drill a hole in the centre of the legs, make pieces to prolong the legs to the desired height and attach them with a steel rod in the centre. This would also cut substantially the cost and avoid lamination. Requires a certain amount od accuracy and access to a drill press, though.

Or, having marked the centres of the upturned legs and drilled them, turn or buy some new legs (various manufacturers sell a range of turned legs) and glue the turned legs to the sawn-off table.

[Greg Q]

I wonder about rigidity if you are going to extend the height to cutting table height. The table may need to have rungs close to the floor to brace it a bit. Also, are the existing legs only fixed in place by the bolted brace, or are the apron members tenoned into the leg? If so it will be a non-trivial task to replace them. A full disassembly would be required...no bad thing, but would need some tools.

Judging by the appearance you might be lucky enough to have hide glued joints, which will pull apart after exposure to hot water. More 'modern' glues will likely be less forgiving.

As far as the top goes, have you considered a quilter's cutting mat? In the right size they cover a multitude of sins, are very slightly spongy, and you can cut paper right on them with a rotary cutter. They are marked in one inch grids too which you might find useful.

Good luck...my first woodworking project was the restoration of an oak roll-top desk. (I succeeded in turning a nice honest piece of furniture into a modern honey coloured piece of crap.)

Greg

[Woodlee]

You might try cleaning vinegar ,its available in the laundry section of the super market ,its made from sugar cane and stronger than wine vinegar .
About $1.90 for a 2 litre bottle.

Kev.

[Bunglegirl]

I wonder about rigidity if you are going to extend the height to cutting table height. The table may need to have rungs close to the floor to brace it a bit.

Good point. I've noticed a lot of tables with extra support. This table used to be full height of a dining table, probably 30" tall. I'm planning on making it a total of around 36". If I have to do that I'm thinking that it's time to just make a new table! Sorry for not using centimeters!

Also, are the existing legs only fixed in place by the bolted brace, or are the apron members tenoned into the leg?

The legs come completely out and are not glued at all. I'm not sure if they were ever glued. I just unscrew the wingnut and slip the bolt (or screw, not sure of the terminology) through the hole and it slides right out. If you look at the corner shot you can see the wingnut and the bot goes through a hole in the corner brace.

As far as the top goes, have you considered a quilter's cutting mat?

That would be great but I'm not sure I could get one that big. I could get one pretty big, at least half the width. Have you ever priced out those mats? Whew, they get up over $100. I've also considered cutting a square hole in it, putting in glass and making part of it a light table. That would be a bit more work, though.

[Bunglegirl]

If you need new legs and a new top... Why not have a crack at a new table all together!

True. I guess part of it is not wanting to throw away a sturdy table made of hardwood. I've been looking for a good adjustable height table of this size and nothing is sturdy unless it costs $1,000 USD.

Part of it is that this was my dad's table and I know he'd be rolling over in his grave to waste such a well made thing. I like keeping his old furniture around, I've inherited his huge roll top desk from the same era although I'm not sure how I'm going to ever get that out of my mom's house once she eventually moves, it's a beast.

Honestly, I want to make my own table. I'm picky and I like the idea of making something that fits my needs exactly. However, I'm moving into an apartment next week and will probably be an apartment dweller for some time so I can't erect a massive, non-movable desk. My mom's house has an extra detached garage I can use to work on stuff in so workspace isn't a big problem.

I guess I was a little scared of making my own table, that it would be a huge job and cost a ton of money. Since I've been pricing out hardwood for the legs I realize just how much it costs. How would you even go about getting a slab of wood for the top? Is there a good alternative to expensive woods that would be sturdy enough for, say, someone to stand on it? I like really modern design so I would want something with clean lines which, I think, would make the construction aspect easier than if I wanted turned spindle legs or something.

[Bunglegirl]

I washed everything down with water/vinegar/washup liquid and I think it's gone. I'm going to wait over night and see how it goes. What if it's in a tiny bit of crack between two boards or in a tiny sliver under the drawer handle that I can't reach? Is that going to mean it will grow back?

Is there anything I can do to treat it/seal it to prevent this from coming back? The top and sides are varnished (actually it may be shellac, it's really think and shiny) but the underside, where a lot of the mold is, seems to be untreated. Should I stain this along with the rest?

At this point I'm thinking of just working on it to use as a coffee table. We'll see how it goes. I suppose I could kneel on the floor and cut paper!

Thanks for all your help so far.

[Fuzzie]

Maybe you could just keep the table as is and use it as a dais to place a cheap desk upon? That would probably give you your required height and you would also have storage space and drawers underneath.

[The Bleeder]

That's good news that it's all gone. If you are worried that you missed some just wait a few days then have a look. If it comes back use the same treatment as before trying to get into those places with a tootbrush.

Fuzzie's idea got me thinking (sometimes this is really bad), maybe you can restore the table as is and build a frame to put it on so it's at the correct height for you. Don't have to worry what type (cost wize) is used for the supporting frame. Then reverting to your dad's coffee table is simple.

Steve