Fixing Nail Polish Table Damage

Q: How can I fix a dull spot created by a blob of nail polish remover that dripped onto a new wooden kitchen table?

A: You've got a couple of options, but all start with a call to the store where you bought the table. Get them to find out from the manufacturer exactly what kind of finishing material was used. Chances are that it was lacquer (the most popular industrial wood finish around), and that's good. New lacquer can be added quite successfully on top of old, and that's something to keep in mind depending on how your initial repair attempts go. Regardless of how your table is finished, begin with mild abrasion applied to the dull spot. Some #0000 steel wool is ideal for the task since it's so fine. The idea is to buff the area with mild pressure, paying close attention to what happens as you work. Ideally, the spot will become less dull and more evenly textured as you work. If this begins to happen, replace the steel wool with something even finer, like an old nylon stocking, then rub some more. Chances are excellent that this will hide the damaged area, especially if you extend your buffing action beyond the spot itself. If things still don't look as good as they should, and your table is finished with lacquer, consider applying a fresh coat of lacquer or two on the entire table surface. Since most lacquer formulations dry very quickly, they have to be sprayed on. You can buy aerosol cans of lacquer at any hardware store, or have the table touched up at a wood finishing shop. This won't require complete stripping, just a light preliminary sanding and a couple of minutes in the spray booth.