One of today's jobs.  About 4 sq.in. in center of table that someone spilled some sort of solvent on.  To make matters worse, right in front of a wall of glass.   Finish gone, about 90% of color gone with it.  Added some color and layer after layer of repeat: {lacquer, dry, lacquer, dry, sand}

 

 

 

Edited April 11, 20179 yr by kmealy

Great Job!!

You're a magician! That spot just up and disappeared! 

Not only the color is correct but getting the sheen correct in that lighting situation.  Well done  Roly

Looks Great!!

Well done Houdini!! Customer best not grumble in any fashion over this repair.

nice...

were the checks intended or a product of time and the sun???

7 minutes ago, Stick486 said:

nice...

were the checks intended or a product of time and the sun???

The "distressing" is intended and part of the design.   AKA crumb catchers (which some of them were pretty full of).

3 minutes ago, kmealy said:

The "distressing" is intended and part of the design.   AKA crumb catchers (which some of them were pretty full of).

 

at 1st I thought it was cored veneer..

so why didn't you fill those characters w/ clear while you were there....

Nice recovery!

Keith, how did you do that? I think my biggest question is how do you get a color match like that, it's perfect. I could never do that. What tools or charts, or experience is required to get that to match as well as it does? Thanks!

40 minutes ago, John Morris said:

Keith, how did you do that? I think my biggest question is how do you get a color match like that, it's perfect. I could never do that. What tools or charts, or experience is required to get that to match as well as it does? Thanks!

I have probably 40 or so different colors in pigmented toners.  But 95% of the time I use one or two of six or seven different ones.  Names will vary by vendor but mine are called light cherry, medium cherry, dark cherry, extra dark cherry, black cherry (some people would call espresso, or another brand is "Newport Ebonized Cherry"), light walnut, and medium walnut.   One of the secrets to coloring is to sneak up on it.  I always say, "You can add dark, but you can't add light."    Or as Shrek says, "Layers.  Onions have layers.  Ogres have layers.  Got it?"  Colored finishes have layers. 

 

Jeff Jewitt (maker of Transtint and Transfast dyes) says in one of his books, "When it comes to color matching, there is simply no substitute for practice.  And the practice will go more smoothly if you make some stain boards and understand some color theory to point you in the right direction.".  

 

In pieces like this, as are many pieces, the color is in the finish and not applied first as a stain only coat.  When the finish is removed by solvent, scraping or chipping, the color goes with it.  This is known as a "toner."   Some people call this a "shader" particularly when it's applied to only selected areas such as edges, raised panels, or rails & stiles.

 

This was way too big to do something like a burn in repair.  This is where sticks of resin (essentially solid finish) are melted and smoothed into the damage.  I started off adding a base coat of color with a marker pen (again containing a toner, not just a stain).  Then I added touch up lacquer.   Force dry with a hair dryer.   Do this a couple of times, then sand off the excess around the edges.   Keep doing this until the void is filled and when you sand over the area it is all at the same level.    Along the way, add toner as needed to adjust the color.   I am sure there are other ways to do this as most people I've seen have their own techniques.  Some would pad on finish, like French Polishing, adding color along the way.   This is just the system that I've worked out.    This took a little more than 90 minutes.   I also had about 7-10 other spots that were minor chips and rubs around the table that I kind of worked on "while the paint dried."

A master at work.  Nicely done!

Thanks for explaining ,Kieth, so it isn't all magic,there is some technique involved. You are a master at touch up,I admire your talent. Keep posting your work, it is very interesting.

Herb

Here's some similar work on a lighter-colored piece.   Darker seems to always be easier.  Sorry, sometimes I have use flash and sometimes not to get the detail in.  This is also an example of selective shading around the edge's veneer.

4 hours ago, HandyDan said:

A master at work.  Nicely done!

 

yup...

1 hour ago, kmealy said:

Here's some similar work on a lighter-colored piece. 

 

WHEW!!!

Keith, how did you manage a yard stick from FML?

2 hours ago, Ron Dudelston said:

Keith, how did you manage a yard stick from FML?

Well, it's a 6" ruler.   Can't remember when or where I got it.  I've been buying from them for a number of years.  Nicest thing for me was free delivery to my door.

1 hour ago, kmealy said:

Well, it's a 6" ruler.   Can't remember when or where I got it.  I've been buying from them for a number of years.  Nicest thing for me was free delivery to my door.

I hear ya on the delivery.  They brought 38 sheets of plywood and 120 BF of poplar right to my door and never charged a dime for delivery.