I have two old maple restaurant prep tables on steel frames that are saturated with fats and oils. I’ve asked several woodworkers about how to best remove most of the oils from the wood. I don’t want to refinish the surface and would like to preserve the distress marks. I want one of these for use in my kitchen, and would like to keep the other in my shop. An experienced woodworker suggested I saturate several terry towels w/ laquer thinner and apply numerous rounds of this to the tables. Someone else suggested having them dipped, while another suggestion involved using ATP. I’d also appreciate input re. finishes; I tend to like oil finishes and don’t like polyurethane. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Replies
I've never tried it on wood but I've removed oil stains from stone by mixing a poultice of plaster of Paris and lacquer thinner. Spread it on, let it dry and remove the remaining plaster. It may take a couple of applications.
Sounds like it's worth a try. thanks
As a kid in the meat market we would clean the cutting surfaces with salt and a steel scrub brush. Baking soda is good on grease and oil too....just a coupla ideas...and there in your cupboard..
You might give Service Master a call, they have great methods for cleaning and could suggest a solution
Edited 8/20/2002 6:09:16 PM ET by BG
Somehow, i don't see the point in removing the oils from the table so you can add more, but to saturate a table for kitchen/food use with lacquer thinner is really inadvisable.
Scrub it good and don't bother greasing it up any more; it'll be fine left bare wood. You mention ATP, but i think you mean TSP (trisodium phosphate), a strong cleaning aid that sounds good to me if you rinse it well.
It was TSP he mentioned, and I think you might be right. The tables are just a bit gunky and would probably be best scrubbed w/ something and left alone. Thanks.
I'll vote for the salt and rub idea. Salt is what I've always used (taught by my Southern grandmother) to clean cast iron skillets with. I'd be real hesitant to use a solvent.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Thanks for the input. These things are pretty gunked out, I'll tell ya. Wouldn't hurt to try salt first, but I'm also intrigued by TSP and Oxy bleach, which are supposed to be pretty safe. AJA
You might try covering the surface with corn meal or corn starch and allowing it to sit overnight. The corn meal/starch will absorb any non drying oils and is non toxic. It may take several applications but it will pull the oils out. A good finish when you are done is flaxseed oil, an edible version of linseed oil and is available at any health food store.
Stephen Shepherd
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled