Posted by goldhiller on May 29, 19102 at 22:06:12:
In Reply to: Repairing Lacquer Finish posted by Ben Powell on May 10, 19102 at 03:32:02:
Ben, If your absolutely sure that this is a lacquer finish, you can likely remove the blush marks by carefully misting some lacquer thinner on the table in the offending areas. This must be done with a spray gun. All you want to do is apply a light mist, just sufficient to cause the lacquer to redissolve and then allow it to reset, at which time you can rubout the finish if necessary. You will likely have to get the area wet, but not flooded if this is to work and if the result is to be smooth rather than an orange peel like finish. Bear in mind that this is an "iffy" approach, which could be complicated or foiled by numerous factors. If this table has had applications of furniture polish containing silicones you may find that your attempts will result in what is known as fisheye. If perchance the finish is actually shellac, the silicone won't likely cause a problem. To determine if the finish is actually shellac, take a cloth moisten with denatured alcohol and test the finish in an inconspicuous area by gently rubbing a bit. If the finish is shellac, it will be removed within 60 seconds or so of application. You can do the same with some lacquer thinner and if it removes with that, you can probably assume that it is lacquer, although even polyurethane will be removed by lacquer thinner if enough of it is applied for a long enough period of time. You needn't perform these tests on a large area. The area under your fingertip will be sufficient to tell. I'd recommend that you wipe the table down with a soft cloth and some mineral spirits before I attempted anything just in case there is any paste wax on it as this would also confound your efforts. Good luck.