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Water stain removal. Ideas please.

PostPosted: 27 Jul 2013, 11:53
by Workingman
I have a ten year old close grained and fairly hard raw pine coffee table. The instructions when it was bought said it was not to be polished or varnished, only oiled, so that is what I have always done.

Last week my sister brought some of those Dulux test pots for me to have a look at some colours prior to decorating. They had been in her cold garage and then in the aircon blasted footwell of her car. I hadn't noticed when we were trying them out that condensation was forming on the pots and it is that which has caused the stains.

I have tried washing the whole top, re-oiling it, even dabbing it with cold tea.... nothing seems to work, not even Topps. Short of sanding the whole top down I am stumped. I do not really want to do that as the top will be a different colour from the patina over the rest of the table.

Any ideas, please.

Re: Water stain removal. Ideas please.

PostPosted: 27 Jul 2013, 12:05
by Rodo
I once read something like this. It consisted of drawing out the water by using a warm iron on top of layers of something - fabric I suppose.

Now, I'm not saying I have ever done this or know anyone who has done this, but it might be worth a try if you were very careful.


http://voices.yahoo.com/iron-out-those- ... 21248.html

Re: Water stain removal. Ideas please.

PostPosted: 27 Jul 2013, 12:06
by Rodo
You will probably have done plenty of googling

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/h ... iture.html

Re: Water stain removal. Ideas please.

PostPosted: 27 Jul 2013, 14:51
by Kaz
I've a feeling I read somewhere that a mix of fag ash and oil will shift this...................will try googling>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Re: Water stain removal. Ideas please.

PostPosted: 27 Jul 2013, 14:54
by Kaz
Yes a mix of cig ash and olive oil worked into the stain, maybe several goes, should shift it :)

Re: Water stain removal. Ideas please.

PostPosted: 27 Jul 2013, 16:16
by Workingman
Allo again, and thanks for the suggestions.

Sadly Kaz the ash and oil seems to be for polished wood. Mine is unpolished, just oiled. However the ironing one from Rodo gets the thumbs up from my neighbour who is a carpenter.

His tip, straight off, was an old towel and hot iron and to re-oil the top whilst still warm. He said that I might have to do the area a few times and then finish off by doing the whole top.

I'll have a go in the morning and report back. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: Water stain removal. Ideas please.

PostPosted: 27 Jul 2013, 17:00
by Kaz
Oh right, good luck then with the iron :) xxxxx

Re: Water stain removal. Ideas please.

PostPosted: 27 Jul 2013, 17:46
by Workingman
Kaz wrote:Oh right, good luck then with the iron :) xxxxx

Hmm I might need it........... Just checking. It is the pointy end that goes forward, isn't it? Like a boat. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: Water stain removal. Ideas please.

PostPosted: 27 Jul 2013, 17:56
by Rodo
Ship ahoy!

Re: Water stain removal. Ideas please.

PostPosted: 27 Jul 2013, 18:11
by Workingman
Oh goody, a chance to wear my Captain Pugwash outfit. :-P :-P :-P