Hello everyone,
I wasn't sure what Forum to put this in. Hopefully it's okay here. We picked up a small table at a flea market last week. I just thought the proportions, design, etc. were attractive. In any case, I have now stripped off the finish since it was a mess, and I've got a few questions.
To begin with, what kind of wood is it? I'm thinking Maple?Ash? It's quite hard and one of the back legs almost looks like Tiger Maple.
I'm also thinking it's probably been made by someone judging by the look of the dovetails? Don't think they came off a machine or jig.
The other two questions have to do with finishing it. I stripped it and it has been sanded with 80 grit to remove the old finish completely. The question is, after sanding and vacuuming it off, the wood is clear, but then in about 5-10 minutes I get the splotchiness pictured. Is this just the old finish somehow coming back up to the surface? And will that eventually stop? I did notice the areas that had a chance to sit overnight had less and less of the splotchy return when I re-sanded it today.
Then the final question, what would you folks do for a finish on it? I was going back and forth and have decided on a clear finish of some type, but didn't know what might look better on Maple, If that's what it is. I could do shellac, oil, or wipe on poly. And then maybe finish with wax. I appreciate your input.
Thanks very much.
Kurt
I wasn't sure what Forum to put this in. Hopefully it's okay here. We picked up a small table at a flea market last week. I just thought the proportions, design, etc. were attractive. In any case, I have now stripped off the finish since it was a mess, and I've got a few questions.
To begin with, what kind of wood is it? I'm thinking Maple?Ash? It's quite hard and one of the back legs almost looks like Tiger Maple.
I'm also thinking it's probably been made by someone judging by the look of the dovetails? Don't think they came off a machine or jig.
The other two questions have to do with finishing it. I stripped it and it has been sanded with 80 grit to remove the old finish completely. The question is, after sanding and vacuuming it off, the wood is clear, but then in about 5-10 minutes I get the splotchiness pictured. Is this just the old finish somehow coming back up to the surface? And will that eventually stop? I did notice the areas that had a chance to sit overnight had less and less of the splotchy return when I re-sanded it today.
Then the final question, what would you folks do for a finish on it? I was going back and forth and have decided on a clear finish of some type, but didn't know what might look better on Maple, If that's what it is. I could do shellac, oil, or wipe on poly. And then maybe finish with wax. I appreciate your input.
Thanks very much.
Kurt