Does this look sanded down? What is it?

SquirrelVintage | Posted in Finishing on October 19, 2020 10:44pm

Hi Everyone! Im new here and am a serious amateur when it comes to woodwork..I.often lurk here and have gained alot of knowledge from you folks. I appreciate that.
My sister is refinishing an old table/cabinet. All she has done is sand with 150 and she thinks this is done? She thinks this is the grain pattern and Im betting her its not. She said she was told it was black walnut veneer. Im used to working with ubiquitous Oak so not sure if she is being led astray! I told her that I think the wood under the veneer is plywood. The slightly wet wood pics are where she wiped it with mineral spirits. Can anyone settle this? or tell me if that is a wood grain pattern at all?
Thanks so much!

Replies

ral3wood | Oct 20, 2020 01:57am | #1
Hey there - Could potentially use a better view of that back to get a better sense, but from what I can see it definitely is veneer... What you CAN see on that view is that there is some center substrate that runs lengthwise and then it is joined with a shallow dado to a piece running transverse at that end. BUT you can see in that same photo that the lengthwise top veneer "skin" continues that same lengthwise grain direction even though the center substrate has switched direction. What is harder to visualize is if there is plywood running underneath or just a different/lesser species of wood. Also, it does look like it may be a pretty thick (ie good quality) veneer on the top. I won't hazard a guess as to wood species of the veneer...! Anyone else chime in on that?
ral3wood | Oct 20, 2020 01:59am | #2
PS - it is a wood grain pattern... But may be plain sliced...
john_c2 | Oct 20, 2020 03:02am | #3
It is veneer for sure. More pictures of the rest would help, but it doesn't look like walnut. Birch maybe.

If she sands too much, she'll sand right through the veneer.
gulfstar | Oct 20, 2020 08:10am | #4
My bet goes to your sister. To my eye this is a nice piece of book matched wavy walnut veneer over a solid core and solid maple or beech moulding. Typical of European made furniture , too bad the wood used for the trim is not walnut.
geedubbee | Oct 20, 2020 09:40am | #5
Other than wanting to sand to a finer grit for a smoother surface I think she is good to go. 150 can leave some serious scratch marks that will show when a top coat is applied. If the look when wet with mineral spirits is acceptable to her then . . . the customer is always right ;-)
bilyo | Oct 20, 2020 11:15am | #6
I agree that this is veneer. So, be very careful with the sanding. It is easy to go right through and then the piece is ruined. From what i see, you are through sanding. Put on your finish of choice and sand lightly with 320 grit between coats.
SquirrelVintage | Oct 20, 2020 01:42pm | #7
Thank you all so much for your experienced opinions and direction! I will have to grovel to her now I guess. ;)