Repair live edge dining table

10 years ago

We own this table: http://www.roomandboard.com/m/catalog/dining/tables/chilton-72w-table-in-walnut

It's 6 months old and eaten at every day. It is live edge walnut, and according to R&b, lacquer finish. i came downstairs this morning and found damage per this picture. Essentially, there is a "live edge" variation in the wood along the grain, and this morning it was all white and cloudy along that stretch - and the lacquer flaked off when I lightly scratched my nail into it. This patch is around five inches long and half a cm - for perspective. Prior to the lacquer scraping off, I would have said this patch felt level with the rest of the table, but just rougher. The picture makes it look like there's a big crack running down it, but in real life I'd say that is more of a "grain" line and not a big crack. The cloudy damaged area is confined to the grain variation, so clearly an issue related to the "live edge" part not taking as well to lacquer. My four year old son eats at this spot on the table, and definitely is a messy eater - but we always wipe up when we're done. clearly he's giving it a bit more abuse than mom and dad are. But nothing off the charts.

What's the best way to spot repair this?

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Comments (4)

klem1
10 years ago
The first thing is attempting to identify the finish with certainty. "Cloudy"make's me think it could be shellac. How/who were you informed the finish is lacquer? Was it new when you got it? Have you used pledge or other product on it containing silicone?
H202
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks for your response. The R&B link above clarifies that it is lacquer: Material: walnut See full material detailsFinish: lacquer
We absolutely purchased the table new - it's expensive new, $2800 or something for our particular slab. I wouldn't say this is damage so much as the lacquer didn't take well to a spot with a rough, raw variation. I'll be honest that it's possible that our housecleaner has used pledge on it.
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PRO
Precision Carpentry
10 years ago
As a pro furniture and cabinetmaker I know of several ways to repair this damage.The issue being if the surrounding finish will eventually fail or not.It's a toss up.

If you want to attempt to repair the area yourself,the easiest way for someone with no experience would be to fill and level the area with epoxy.

http://www.wwgoa.com/article/table-top-fracture-repair/
bobismyuncle
10 years ago
In the roughly 10,000 pieces of furniture that I've repaired, there have been 3 that were not some sort of lacquer. Highly unlikely that any commercial furniture made after 1940 is shellac.

The reason Pledge was noted was that its silicone oil will dramatically affect most finishes with a problem called "fish-eye" -- little craters when a finish is applied over the top of it.

The lifting of the finish is most likely due to a crack in the finish that has allowed water to get underneath and compromise the finish. Letting it go is only get worse..

While there are lots of repair approaches depending upon materials and skill available, you've spent a lot of money on this table and I'd suggest not trying to do a DIY and really messing it up. Contact the seller and see if this is a warranted claim damage. If not, try to find a competent furniture repair technician. A repair might include excavating and inserting a "dutchman", stripping and refinishing the top, filling with polyester filler, epoxy, burn in sticks, or really thick "repair lacquer" depending upon closer evaluation.