Thread: restoring an old silky oak table

If it's an old S.O. table, as in early 1950's? then the black could well be black japan.

cheers
Wendy

i had the same problem with a silky oak table i bought. tried rubbing with metho and using selleys paint stripper with mixed success. it probably is worth a try - eg if it is shellac then it should start to come off with metho. give it a go on a concealed area eg under the skirt or inside the frame so that if it doesn't achieve what you want you havent created a problem on an area thats visible.

at the end of the day the only way i found to get the black out of the grain was sanding being careful not to create hollows etc, and to not take too much material off. there are a few flecks through the table but you don't notice them and i am more than happy with the result.

pic 1 before / after sanding
pic 2 finished

look forward to seeing the pics - i love silky oak and have restored the dining table, 6 chairs, a 4 drawer filing cabinet and a office desk. the filing cabinet was also pretty sorry beforehand, but with a bit of time and effort they have come up very well.

thanks
nick

I did one a few years ago. Ended up sanding it back to bare timber and veneer, then french polished it.
It was want the client wanted and it came up a treat.

See images-

Here are the promised pictures, thanks for the info so far. I inherited a 1920's I Guess Silky Oat bedroom setting (Bed, Dressing table, waldrobe, washing stand from my grandfather who had it made by a Chinese Carpenter when he returned from ww1. This started my Silky Oak passion Since then I have added a Sideboard with legs which match this table and a bedside table to my collection.

Cheers,
Mike

Step 1 is to remove the top and see what can be done to the opening joints.
A photo of the underside, showing the method of top attachment and internal corner joints is handy.
As the table has been partly sanded?, all of it may be sanded.
I find the best sander for this and any jobs is a "random orbital sander 125mm"
This link is an example.
http://www.bosch-do-it.com.au/boptoc...object_id=5983

Hilton