Refinishing sunbleached(?) rosewood table top

[servusdei]

Hello folks,

 

I have a Rosewood table that was in a sunny room with a runner down the center. After many years the area where the runner was is much darker than the rest of the table, appearing to be unbleached. I am wanting to get the table back to what the wood was like under the runner but am unsure as how to proceed. Initially, my thoughts are to strip the finish and sand till the wood is uniform. I was told the top is solid but I cannot confirm. I have attached a picture. What would you recommend? I find it strange that the wood would lighten with sun rather than darken like cherry and other woods do. I also wonder if the table reacted to the runner somehow and it should be the lighter shading I should be matching, but  I do prefer that darker. Thank you in advance for your time.

 

Howard

 

[Eric.]

Some woods darken, some woods lighten.  You don't have to do anything except be patient.  Eventually the color will even out.  Put it out in the sun if you want to accelerate the color change.

[G S Haydon]

Hi,

 

It's very common for the wood to bleach, UV light sorts that out. If it is a solid top you could sand back to bare timber, stain and refinish. Veneer is a bit more tricky and not something I know too much about. 

[dwacker]

Your not going to fix it by sitting out in the sun. Like GSH stated you will need to strip and sand. Make sure it is solid before you start. Look at the underside it should be obvious if not bore a small shallow hole to check. If its veneer it can still be fixed but may require a toner to darken it up. If it is veneer, you just need to be careful not to sand through.

[Tpt life]

I would try to determine the depth of the fade first. Depending on the exposure, intensity, and oxidation rates the fade could be an eighth inch or more deep. With that raised profile you could end up sanding more than would be desirable.

[Eric.]

Your not going to fix it by sitting out in the sun. 

 

Why?  I installed tigerwood floors about 6 years ago.  Every time we move a piece of furniture or a rug, there's a light spot where the sun couldn't get to the wood.  After a few weeks or a month, the color evens out and you can't tell the difference.  

[dwacker]

Why?  I installed tigerwood floors about 6 years ago.  Every time we move a piece of furniture or a rug, there's a light spot where the sun couldn't get to the wood.  After a few weeks or a month, the color evens out and you can't tell the difference.  

 

The sun will lighten the dark spots not darken the light spots. Rose wood is photo sensitive. OP wants to darken the light spots.