This is serious. Candle burn repair to oak

[Steve]

Had two tealights on the dining table. Left them unattended for a bit while we were watching TV in the lounge in the next room. Fishy smell started. Thought it was the cat. Then got up and went to kitchen. One tealight was half-burnt, one was finished and blackened. It looks like one has overheated and burnt too fast, causing quite a substantial burn to the table below.

So how do I fix this?

Untitled

• Steve
• 3 Mar 2013
• 1

Untitled

• Steve
• 3 Mar 2013
• 1

The table is oak I think and has a gloss finish. I have scraped off a bit of the burnt stuff but it looks quite deep

The table is only a year old.

I have put this in this forum as it seemed most appropriate.

PS I wont be putting tealights on a bare table anymore.

 

[dcdec]

Not sure you are in the right place but the only thing that occurs to me is, can you dismantle and turn the top upside down? and would bleaching and refinishing work? any stain or oil applied to match the burn would have to be the same colour as the burn hence it would be very dark and not very nice. French polishers do some pretty amazing things, could be another option which i guess depends on the value of your table.
Horrible thing to happen, hope you can get it sorted

 

[Jackrae]

Get some veneer, cut out damage and fit veneer. Welcome to the new hobby of marquetry.

Fortunately no major damage done but you now realise just how dangerous candle lights can be. Our local fire brigade state they are one of the major causes of house fires (have they taken over from chip-pans ?)

 

[big-all]

not a lot to say really deep burns mean lots off material removal so a big round hole or a blackened area
there is no miracle cure i am afraid disguise the area
see if the part will flip and leave less obviouse screw holes to fill
contact the place you bought is and ask about another part
but in general less than 10% chance off an easy fix that costs less than a new table

 

[big-all]

lots off similar answers together lol

 

[rjm2k]

Ouch! How deep is deep? Could you sand the whole lot down to a level below the damage?

 

[HERTS P&D]

As above, belt sand the whole table and re-oil/varnish.

Andy

 

[dhutch]

Is it solid oak or veneer?

 

[joe-90]

Insurance for a new table.

 

[xr4x4]

Anyone remember that yellow pages advert? With the kids party and the scratch on the coffee table?

 

[WabbitPoo]

Do the same at the other end and pretend its part of the design.

 

[Steve]

Hmmm, thanks for all the replies. The burn goes quite deep (though I havent scraped much away yet, its too depressing)

The table is an extending one, where the two halves of the top spread apart and the middle bit folds out from underneath. Thus underneath are a LOT of screw holes on the wooden sliding rails and clamps, and probably glue too.

I believe it is solid oak, certainly the bottom of the table is the same as the top, only less finished. It certainly wasnt cheap!

I'm not sure if anyone's seen it done, but I did think about the possibility of routering out the burnt bit, and then routering out a bit from the bottom of the table top (and prise out with a chisel) to fit inside the hole created, sand, fill and finish.

If thats not possible (or would prove too expensive to hire someone to do it) I would consider sanding the whole lot down with a belt sander (and a few belts!) An issue I have with this is the fold-out middle bit. This would need sanding too! Also, the pattern on the top is a "framed field" effect on both leaves and the middle bit. There is a slight chamfer between the "frame" and the "field" which I could only get back with a router.

 

[rjm2k]

Fitting a bit in there will always look obvious, if it's solid oak you are probably better off sanding the whole top. Check your insurance, they may do it for you though it may affect your premium.

 

[RigidRaider]

I would go for a routered-out circle then a carefully made disc glued in tightly with the grain running the same way, sand and re-seal the entire top.

Actually a square might look better.... and the patch would be easier to make and fit with the grain right.

Skilfully done, it would transform your table from "ruined" to "seen some life".

 

[dhutch]

Actually a square might look better.... and the patch would be easier to make and fit with the grain right.

Oval is the most common, but not so easy to cut!

Quite common on Burred Walnut Veneer...