I’m really hoping somebody can help or point me in the direction of advice. Last week, my 2 year old daughter swung one of her toys hitting a favorite drum table of ours on the corner. It took out a small chunk (1/4″-3/8″ in diameter) of the mahogany veneer.
While I’m a pretty decent woodworker, I’ve never worked with veneer, and certainly need advice on how to begin fixing it.
I suspect the finish is either a lacquer or poly (I need to check) and the veneer is a stained mahogany. I suspect I may need to use some kind of filler compound mixed with the appropriate stain color, or alternatively, use a filler compound then hand color it with a fine brush. What about burn in sticks? Then again their may be other methods.
I can alway refinish the table top, as I have a good HVLP unit….it’s more matching the color and texture of the mahogany, so that it’s near invisible, that I’m concerned about.
I’ve attached a photo of the dent.
Any help would be much much much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Bill
Edited 11/27/2007 12:19 am ET by bill stuckey
Edited 11/27/2007 1:11 am ET by bill stuckey
Replies
If this is a commercially made piece the finish isn't polyurethane varnish but either lacquer, or if made fairly recently it might be a catalyzed lacquer or even a conversion varnish. Lacquer would be the easiest to these to repair.
I assume you have scoured the area for the missing chip. At some point you use the word "dent" in your description. Is it possible that there is a missing flake of finish, but that the underlying wood is merely or mostly compressed as a dent? If so a little steam might raise it so you could concentrate of some dye/stain to create the matching color.
With a small chip, I tend to like burn in sticks to establish the basic surface with some grain features either painted in or, if the finish isn't completely filled, to texture with a hot pin to make the grain. Allow for feathering in some clear lacquer (Behlen makes a decent rattle can version) and expect to gently rub out the repair to match the top. You may need to rub the full top for the final sheen only.
Thanks for the response, Steve.
Yes indeed it is a commercially made piece, and about 2 years old. So, you're probably right, it is a type of lacquer.
Unfortunately, I don't have the piece that chipped off. My wife was sheepish about telling me about the damage for a couple weeks after it happened, and she had vacuumed in the room since.
The veneer is indeed chipped off and the underlying wood is slightly depressed/dented.
I'm attaching a slightly higher res photo so you can see a better view.
Thanks again.
Bill.
Two more questions, Steve, if I may:
1. How do I tell if the finish is catalyzed lacquer or solvent lacquer? I suspect lacquer thinner might soften or dissolve the solvent lacquer but not the catalyzed lacquer......just a guess.
2. If it is a catalyzed lacquer finish, can the finish around the repair be blended with the existing finish as easily as with solvent lacquer? In other words, does catalyzed lacquer dissolve into the existing catalyzed lacquer finish as easily as new solvent lacquer dissolves into an existing solvent lacquer finish?
Thank you again,
bill
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