I have an old Aalto table (marked 85, Aalto Design, Made in Sweden, Artek) and there is some damage, e.g., a few cigarette burns and a bit of discoloration/water damage(?) at the lowest 2" of the legs. If I sand, stain, and refinish the entire table, would I diminish whatever value the table may have? I don't know anything about this table as it is. Actually, is this a do-it-yourself project anyway, or one better left to a professional?
Thanks much for any advice!
Tough question
You have just asked one of the most popular things to ask on DA. The question to refinish versus to leave in original state is a very tough question. First- do what makes you happy. Second- research pieces that have sold in original condition vs. refinished pieces. Third- know your limits. If you a great at refinishing, go for it. Otherwise leave it to someone who knows what they are doing. There is nothing worse that a bad refinishing job.
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Cigarette burns are some of the hardest blemishes to treat, especially on ply as the amount of sanding you'd need to do to take the burn out will end up going through the top layer of veneer and make matters much much worse. The usual technique is to remove the finish, put colour over the burn to match the rest of the wood and then refinish over - its definitely not a job for a novice. Take it to a good restorer would be my advice.
Paulanna's right.
Cig burns are bad. Especially on lighter colored woods with close grain and natural transparent finishes... like most Artek Aalto pieces. There's no bleaching carbon and sometimes veneers are completely burned through.
Two approaches are common. One is to fill and inpaint the void. The other is to execute a proper veneer patch. With both, success is commensurate with the talent/experience of the restorer. Both techniques generally require a refinish of the repaired surface.
The most radical approach would be to re-veneer or paint the entire surface.
Photos would help, as previously noted.
it does not look so bad...
it does not look so bad compared to the stools i pulled out off the dumpster outside the baker house at m.i.t. campus in cambridge, ma. besides making sure the screws are all tight and secure, i pretty much left the finish alone as i found them. the stools were as george nakashima puts it "kevinized" by the students who used to live in one of only two buildings by aalto in the usa.
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