2007-04-09 09:02:49 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
As someone said, it IS most likely moisture trapped inside the finish. This can easily happen if you place something very hot on the bare surface (it pulls the moisture out of the wood, as the wood heats up), or even by placing a 'sweating' object (like a cold drink glass), which would let the moisture sink into the finish from above. Too many people assume a simple moisture mark has to be sanded down to the bare wood to eliminate it!
Before you try any of the ideas presented above, and possibly ruin your table, try this simple trick....
Use a hair dryer, on low heat setting... just aim it back and forth across the mark. It should help evaporate the moisture that is trapped inside the finish, without harming the finish. Depending on how much moisture there is, it might take you a few minutes to get it all out. As long as the finish does not get too hot to touch, you should be fine. If the finish does get too hot, it may soften a bit, but the hair dryer on low heat setting will not harm the wood at all.
You can most likely take care of this little problem yourself, in as little as 15 minutes... worst case scenario, it wont hurt to try, and it could save you a bundle.
If this does NOT work, then consult a furniture restoration company/individual -- not knowing how to repair a nice piece of furniture can cost you more in the long run, than hiring the work done. Also, it helps to actually see the damage to properly diagnose it. White marks on a wood furniture finish USUALLY mean moisture trapped inside the finish -- and this is easily taken care of with a hair dryer... no sanding, no refinishing. (Ive done this many times -- and Im a professional woodworker, hehehe)
Good Luck!
2007-04-09 10:58:32 · answer #1 · answered by thewrangler_sw 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The white mark is moisture that has been pulled up into the finish (wax or hardcoat) by the heat. The only way to remove it is by removing the top finish and then refinishing it.
2007-04-09 09:32:31 · answer #2 · answered by sensible_man 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your going to have to sand it down and re stain it, if it has stain on it, take a sample of the stain to a paint store that can match the color stain ( not Home Depot or Lowe's ) but if it is a natural look sand and polyurethane.
2007-04-09 09:35:25 · answer #3 · answered by adevilchild38 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't...you just ruined it
or you could hire a professinal furniture restorer that specializes in mahogany.
sorry for the bad news
2007-04-09 09:14:58 · answer #4 · answered by leroux3s 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋