Photos of damage

Water rings

Inlay...the wood/veneer is different than the rest of

Friends and chipping

Dryness and peeled/chipped

Based on your limitations, I recommend a doily.

Side pic of table...string is for leg I had to reattach

Hi Ashley,

Try this and try to keep the table out of the sun. If it doesn't work feel free to ask for another option.

DIY Wood Restore Moisturizer

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon Mayonnaise

1 tablespoon Lemon Juice

1 tablespoon Olive Oil

Combine all three ingredients in a small bowl, stirring well to get everything mixed together.

To Use:  Dip the corner of a rag into the mixture and then rub it into the wood.  Use a rag you don’t care about using again, or that you can just dedicate to this purpose, as this mixture has oily ingredients and might not wash out to your satisfaction if you use your most favorite cleaning cloth

That looks like flavoring to a pet.

No mayonaise mixture can save that finish. Try mixing 2/3 cup of shellac thinner (denatured alcohol) with 1/3 cup of lacquer thinner ( acetone) and brush it on. It will soften the finish and you can smooth it out....and maybe you will want to wipe it off....but first just try smoothing it out.
Works similarly to Formbys refinisher but without any stain.
it's a sweet table....please don't paint it...that finish can be easily fixed.
The wood is not dry....all this stuff about "dry wood" is baloney...its the finish that is dry and all the oil in the world won't help. And if you put oil on the bare wood you won't be anle to apply any other finish.

I agree with your alternative. I know designers, like myself, try natural ways and chemical ways, like yours. I was simply trying to give her a better option since she says she has a small budget and is immobile. Your idea is a good one for someone who has access to leaving the home and if they have a little extra case. COVID 19 has caused stores to raise prices so she won't be able to save money. I hope see find both of our options useful. Have a good day.

You have extensive water damage on that top, and some sun damage. The veneer is lifting. Two options for the top at this point 1) Pay someone remove the existing veneer and re-veneer it. 2) put a cloth over it. You can't refinish that, it's too far gone and may as well save yourself the effort.

BTE string doesn't work for re-gluing legs, you have to have something that creates tension and pressure for the glue to bond. Either use a clamp or a nylon cargo strap you can rachet. Without that tension to bond , the leg will fall off again.

I don't see veneer lifting--if it is, it's not major. And lifting veneer can often be restuck. It's not like you want it to look brand new!

You might want to take this to the woodworking forum here for additional opinions.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/woodworking

To add to Izzy's comment make certain that outside garbage can is away from any building or flammable materials including dry grass. A neighbor found out the hard way.

and don't put a lid on the garbage can. Alcohol will work ( not rubbing alcohol) if the finish is shellac, if it's a varnish or lacquer you will need to add some lacquer thinner to the alcohol.
I also don't see a lid lifting....and string or rope will work as a clamp...if you run it around several times and use a stick to flip over and over to tighten it up/