Repairing Blush on a Table Top
Hot pizza made a blush spot when the heat drove moisture into a table finish. Here's how to fix it. May 7, 2007
Question
I've got a factory made dining table that has a spot on it made by a hot pizza box. The damage is a whitish blush spot and I’m not sure of the finish type. Does anybody have a quick one size fits all trick for an easy repair? Just thought I’d throw it out there before doing a total refinish.
Forum Responses
(Finishing Forum)
From contributor H:
If it has just happened recently let it set for a few weeks - it may fade out. It’s moisture trapped in the finish by the heat.
From contributor R:
I would suggest trying this; get yourself a spray can of "no-blush" from Mohawk and spray a few light coats on the spot. Then they have industrial super strength stuff and it’s called "super blush retarder" that you may want to use as well.
From the original questioner:
Yeah I tried the wait it out method and after 5 months (wanted to make sure) there were no change. So what’s the deal with the Mohawk stuff - is it also finish? Or is it a wipe off type product?
From contributor T:
What you need is heat! Rubbing the spot with a clean cotton cloth creates heat, and this will release the moisture within. A quick way is with a hair drier at a distance and rubbing down gently.
From contributor W:
The finish is probably lacquer. Did you check the archives? You'll need to re-melt or re-dissolve the finish in the spot to erase the heat/moisture damage. Mohawk's No Blush and Behlen's Blush Eraser are solvent blends that will temporarily re-dissolve the finish, releasing the moisture.
Lacquer is thermal plastic - it will melt if heated - so heat will do the job too: just go slow and I wouldn’t rub it until it's cooled. One guy I know likes to pour some denatured alcohol on the spot and light it on fire - never dared to try that myself. One other technique is to dampen a rubbing pad with lacquer thinner. Gently swipe it (1 pass) over the spot - like an airplane doing a touch and go. Let the thinner evaporate and swipe again. Don't rub it and don't re-swipe before the thinner has evaporated - let the thinner work for you. Whatever technique you try, you may have to adjust the sheen after the spot is gone.
