I’m refinishing and old (not antique) desk. The top is a nice, reasonably thick, mahogany veneer. The problem is that it was grain filled with white filler before it was sprayed with the usual thick toners to cover up that nice veneer.
I’ve stripped and sanded it but the white filler remains in the grain. I’ve tried applying stain and spraying a light coat of toner but nothing seems to stick to the white filler. I also tried removing it with a soft brass brush and some mineral spirits and lacquer thinner. Neither had any noticeable effect.
Any ideas how to “get the white out” or am I stuck with white specks in my desk top???
pete
Replies
As you know, traffic is slow. Do you know what wook is under the veneer? I have on occasion liked the substrate wood better than veneer and removed it--then refinish that wood. If it is s fairly old piece, it might be nice wood.
I know nothing about filler, and I'm sure someone will be along to answer, but I would think that stripper would lift it out of the pores. Maybe a litght application of stripper and appropriate removal. Then start over with colored filler?
I might also add, that a part of a day to wait for a reply is not all that much!! ;o)
Thanks for the reply.
Seems like the only answer is stripper (as you said) and a soft brass brush to get into the pores. I was trying to avoid it but seems that's the only way to do it and have it look decent. Not my favorite part of woodworking.
pete
I think you won't find it to be a very difficult job. When you remove the stripper you might try using steel wool or one of the 3M pads--it will get into the pores a bit, and maybe all the way.
>>"I think you won't find it
>>"I think you won't find it to be a very difficult job"<<
Difficult -No . . . . Time consuming - yes
Steel wool didn't faze it. A brass brush and a lot of scrubbing got most of it out. I'm going to try sealing it with some tinted shellac and see how that goes. After sealing I can just touch up the remaining spots with a graining pen and move on.
Oh, sorry that didn't work. When I say "not difficult" I really meant not very long!! If you "got most of it out", then I think you need to spend a bit more time. I have used a dental pick to get paint out of oak pores--deeep. I think you haven't let the stripper work well enough, also recognizing that you can't soak the veneer. Have you let it dry, then wipe it well with mineral spirits and look at it while it is wet. Is the filler/white VERY pronounced at that point? This is what you piece will look like with a clear finish.
Stripper and Brass Bristle Brush
Once I heard a finisher/refinisher claim he was able to remove from the pores old oil based paint applied directly to raw mahogany, by giving another coat of stripper time to soften the paint in the pores and then clean out with a fine bristle brass brush. Don't know what the material is in your pores, so you may have to try a couple different strippers, but hopefully one will soften. It's certainly not going to be fun.
Sanded to the raw wood?
Youve' sanded it down, all the old finish off? of the veneer? I am wondering if the filler is plastic based... Old school fillers were pretty porus. Maybe the finish soaked in and perhaps... if you can put some Dye in the solvent.... *you didn't mention what it's finished in" may melt the top coat enough to allow the die to soak in? It worked on a ugly table top I fixed... was shellac... I put some of the liquid tint dye in it and carefully melted it into the top... lot of screwing around tho..
Rich
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