How to Repair a Stained and Sealed Wooden Table with Nail Polish Remover Damage

if nail polish remover is spilled on a finished table, it contains acetone and acts like a remover

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• paint and varnish remover
• stripping gloves
• metal scraper and putty knife,
• acetone
• sand paper grit 150 and 300
• masking tape and dropcloth
• lacquer of your choice

1. If the nail polish remover has eaten through the lacquer, it's best to strip as many coats of lacquer from the table as necessary to at least be perfectly even with the damaged layer. Most of the time, you'll find it easier to strip the entire table to bare wood and start from scratch. Believe it or not, that may be much quicker than trying to make the damage disappear.

2. Once stripped to deisred layer, wash with acentone, let dry and sand lightly with 150 grit just to make the layer look the same. Sand again lightly with 300 grit or even higher number for a smoother surface.

3. If you have not sanded to bare wood, apply the lacquer of your choice. It's best to use the same type of lacquer that is already there. If you don't know what was used to finish the table, Polyurethane lacquers usually have a lower chance of reaction.
   If stripped to bare wood, apply coats of sealer, let dry and lacquer, each coat approximately 8 hours apart on a dry day.

Tips & Warnings

• if you have little experience, please consult with a professional finish restorer. call [phone] for help
• Stripper, acetone, and lacquer are very harsh chemicals. be sure to have proper ventillation and take time to prepare the space by covering floors and furniture.
• work with an even speed and pressure throughout the entire surface to ensure a good quality finish

Resources

• Piano Furniture Restoration Refinishing