We have a white oak table in our kitchen eating area that we have had for a number of years. It is quite a beautiful piece but for the last year or so it has responded to humidity by becoming very sticky. I have not been able to correct the situation.
I am certain that the finish is shellac over a stained surface. The color has gotten quite dark over the years. My wife maintained it for years by giving it a good coat of butchers wax a couple of times per year. The table was on loan to friends for a few years while we were temporarily living in another state. They said that they protected it the same way. Now the stickiness just can’t seem to be cured. I have tried to remove all the present layers of wax and then applying multiple additional layers with plenty of drying time in between. Nothing seems to work.
Any ideas will be appreciated. Thank you.
Daryl
Replies
Hi Daryl,
Nitrocellulose lacquer can break down chemically over time and ultimately becomes sticky. When this happens, it has to be completely removed (stripped) and replaced. I have a coffee table in the early stages of this breakdown; it's very sensitive to water and heat and gets a milky spot (blush) easily. I've refinished a number of pieces where the finish had gotten sticky - the old finish comes off pretty easily. Even if the stickiness is isolated to limited areas, a complete refinish is best.
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I think if it were shellac and used in a kitchen area that the finish would be marred by water rings, etc. unless you are a VERY unusual family. Have you tried wiping it down with mineral spirits to see if the stickiness will be removed? Wax will also show water marks. It is not a terribly protective coat to put on--it does polish however.
If you can remove the finish with alcohol, it's shellac.
If you can remove it with MEK, it's lacquer (and probably nitrocellulose).
Normally one does this test in a hidden spot, but since it looks like you have to refinish, there's no need to find a hidden area.
My guess is lacquer. Shellac tends to get harder with age, not goopier (that's a technical term).
Good luck
I agree with Paul. The finish is in its last stages of deterioration. It should be chemically stripped and a new finish applied. I have refinished a number of surfaces with exactly the same malady. All were lacquer.
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